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Tissue specific regulation of CB1/CB2 gene receptors in salt sensitive hypertension of SHR
Author(s) -
Varagic Jasmina,
Gallagher Patricia E.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1108.8
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , receptor , blood pressure , cannabinoid receptor type 2 , kidney , cannabinoid receptor , messenger rna , excretion , chemistry , gene , biochemistry , agonist
A growing body of evidence suggests that endogenous cannabinoids participate in the regulation of blood pressure in salt‐sensitive hypertension. However, there is limited information on the role of cannabinoids in the development of cardiac and renal abnormalities associated with high dietary salt intake. Therefore, the present study evaluated gene expression of the two major cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) in the heart and kidneys of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) fed a high salt diet. Male SHRs were given an 8% salt diet (HS; n=7), while their age‐matched controls (C; n=7) received standard chow for 5 weeks. CB1 and CB2 mRNA was measured using reverse transcriptase, real‐time polymerase chain reaction. After 5 weeks, the HS exacerbated hypertension (C: 208 ± 13; HS: 260 ± 11 mmHg, p<0.05) and increased left ventricular weight (C: 980 ± 12; HS: 1163 ± 38 mg, p<0.05), cardiac fibrosis [C: 3.41 ± 0.48; HS: 13.58 ± 3.29 %; p<0.05] and urinary protein excretion (C: 20 ± 2; HS: 160 ± 38 mg/day; p<0.05). CB1 receptor mRNA was 2.4‐fold (p<0.05) and 1.4‐fold (p<0.05) reduced in the heart and kidneys of salt‐loaded SHR, respectively. In contrast, CB2 mRNA was increased 1.8‐fold in kidney (p<0.05), but not in the heart. These results suggest that CB1/CB2 gene receptors are regulated in a tissue‐specific manner in salt‐loaded SHRs and may play a role in the development of end organ damage due to high dietary salt intake.