Open AccessReduced connexin-43 expression in the aorta of pre-hypertensive rats
Author(s) -
Katarína Dlugosova,
M Mitašíková,
Iveta Bernátová,
P Weismann,
Ľudmila Okruhlicová
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
physiological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.647
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1802-9973
pISSN - 0862-8408
DOI - 10.33549/physiolres.931548
Subject(s) - western blot , connexin , immunofluorescence , endothelium , medicine , endocrinology , aorta , gap junction , thoracic aorta , prehypertension , chemistry , blood pressure , immunology , antibody , biochemistry , intracellular , gene
Genetic component represents an important factor in thedevelopment of hypertension, which is known to be associatedwith changes in expression of vascular gap junction proteinconnexin 43 (Cx43). The aim of the study was to examine thedistribution and expression of Cx43 in the aortic endothelium ofadult normotensive Wistar rats (W), borderline hypertensive rats(BHR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Rings of thethoracic aorta were processed for immunofluorescence andWestern blot analysis of endothelial Cx43 and for electronmicroscopy. Both, BHR and SHR exhibited significantly increasedblood pressure vs. W (132±2 mm Hg and 185±3 mm Hg vs.110±2 mm Hg). Reduced Cx43 immunofluorescence wasobserved in the endothelium of BHR and these alterations weremore pronounced in SHR. Western blot analysis showedsignificant suppression of Cx43 expression in the aorta of bothBHR (p<0.05) and SHR (p<0.001) vs. W. Electron microscopyrevealed local subcellular alterations of interendothelialconnections in BHR including extended tight junctions. Thesealterations were more frequent and marked in SHR. The resultsindicate that connexin 43 expression is reduced in the aorticendothelium already in prehypertensive period, which may affectcell-to-cell communication and thus participate in acceleration ofhypertensive disease.