Assessment of the microRNA system in salt-sensitive hypertension

Most animal microRNAs are imperfectly complementary to their mRNA targets and inhibit protein synthesis through an unknown mechanism. MicroRNAs have been reported to play important roles in a number of biological processes. We assessed the microRNA system in Dahl salt-sensitive rats in order to investigate possible roles of microRNA in salt-sensitive hypertension. We constructed microRNA libraries from the kidneys of Dahl salt-sensitive and Lewis rats taking normal or high-salt diets (4 groups), and identified 91 previously reported and 12 new microRNAs expressed in the kidney. We then used Northern blotting to assess the expression levels of 118 microRNAs in the kidneys and heart ventricles. No significant differences in microRNA expression profiles were observed among the 4 groups. Thus, the microRNA system seemed to be unlikely to contribute to salt-sensitive hypertension in Dahl salt-sensitive rats.