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Nerve growth factor mRNA content parallels altered sympathetic innervation in the spontaneously hypertensive rat
P H Falckh1, L A Harkin, R J Head
1CSIRO Division of Human Nutrition, Adelaide, South Australia.
Abstract:
1. In order to explore the mechanisms responsible for the hypernoradrenergic innervation of the vasculature in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) the tissue content of nerve growth factor messenger ribonucleic acid (NGFmRNA) was examined. 2. The concentration of NGFmRNA was markedly elevated in mesenteric veins obtained from SHR when compared with the contents of NGFmRNA in veins from Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). 3. The NGFmRNA content of kidneys was greater in SHR when compared with the levels present in WKY rats for 10- and 43-day-old animals. 4. In contrast to the pattern observed for veins and kidneys, the NGFmRNA content of SHR hearts was smaller than those present in hearts from WKY rats for 2, 10 and 43-day-old animals. 5. The results demonstrate that tissues with enhanced innervation (the kidney and mesenteric vasculature) in SHR are associated with an enhanced expression of NGFmRNA. In contrast, the heart, which does not display an enhanced sympathetic innervation in the SHR, does not have an increased expression of NGFmRNA. 6. It is suggested that in the SHR there is a tight relationship between hypernoradrenergic innervation in the vasculature and gene expression for NGFmRNA.
Insights
In spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), elevated nerve growth factor messenger ribonucleic acid (NGFmRNA) in blood vessels suggests a link to increased noradrenergic innervation. This finding highlights NGFmRNA
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) exhibit hypernoradrenergic innervation of the vasculature.
- The role of nerve growth factor (NGF) in this vascular innervation is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between vascular hypernoradrenergic innervation and nerve growth factor messenger ribonucleic acid (NGFmRNA) expression in SHR.
- To determine tissue-specific expression patterns of NGFmRNA in SHR compared to normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY).
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of NGFmRNA content in mesenteric veins, kidneys, and hearts of SHR and WKY rats at various ages (2, 10, and 43 days).
- Comparison of NGFmRNA levels between SHR and WKY groups to identify differential gene expression.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated NGFmRNA levels were observed in the mesenteric veins and kidneys of SHR compared to WKY rats.
- In contrast, SHR hearts showed lower NGFmRNA content than WKY rat hearts across all measured ages.
- Enhanced NGFmRNA expression correlated with tissues exhibiting increased sympathetic innervation in SHR.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates a strong association between vascular hypernoradrenergic innervation and increased NGFmRNA gene expression in SHR.
- NGFmRNA appears to play a role in regulating sympathetic innervation in the vasculature of hypertensive rats.