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The relationship between apoptosis and spontaneous hypertension.
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, First University Hospital, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China. penglim@cdisn.cd.sc.cn
Chinese Medical Journal
|October 17, 2001
Summary
Spontaneous hypertension in rats shows an age-dependent increase in cardiac apoptosis. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor ramipril significantly reduced this apoptosis and blood pressure, suggesting a new therapeutic approach for hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Spontaneous hypertension is linked to cellular changes in the heart.
- Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a key cellular process.
- The role of apoptosis in genetic hypertension requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between apoptosis and spontaneous hypertension in rats.
- To determine the effect of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor on cardiac apoptosis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive WKY rats.
- Administered ramipril, an ACE inhibitor, to SHR.
- Quantified cardiomyocyte apoptosis using maximal labeling (Lmax), electron microscopy (EM), TUNEL, and DNA fragmentation analysis.
Main Results:
- Cardiac apoptosis significantly increased with age in SHR, but not in WKY rats.
- Ramipril treatment reduced DNA fragmentation and blood pressure in SHR.
- Treated SHR exhibited apoptosis levels similar to normotensive WKY controls.
Conclusions:
- Apoptosis is significantly elevated in the cardiac tissue of SHR with increasing age.
- Ramipril effectively prevents age-related increases in cardiac apoptosis and hypertension.
- Inhibition of apoptosis by ACE inhibitors presents a novel therapeutic strategy for hypertension.