Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
08:50

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Published on: June 16, 2014

The effect of hypertension on serum nitric oxide and vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations. A study in

M Khazaei1, M Nematbakhsh

  • 1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran. majkhazaei@yahoo.com

Regulatory Peptides
|May 23, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Hypertension in rats significantly reduced serum Nitric Oxide (NO) levels and increased Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) concentrations, indicating endothelial dysfunction. These findings highlight potential biomarkers for cardiovascular disease risk.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally.
  • Endothelial dysfunction, involving functional and structural changes, underlies common CVDs like hypertension.
  • Ovariectomized rats are utilized to model hormonal influences on cardiovascular health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of induced hypertension on serum Nitric Oxide (NO) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) levels.
  • To explore the relationship between hypertension, endothelial function, and these key biomarkers in a rat model.
  • To assess changes in NO and VEGF in DOCA-Salt hypertensive ovariectomized rats.

Main Methods:

  • Thirty female rats underwent ovariectomy.
  • Hypertension was induced using the DOCA-Salt method (DOCA injections and 1% NaCl solution).
  • Serum concentrations of NO and VEGF were measured and compared between hypertensive and control groups.

Main Results:

  • DOCA-Salt hypertensive rats exhibited significantly lower serum NO concentrations compared to controls (18.35 ± 5.31 vs. 45.01 ± 12.54 µmol/l, p < 0.05).
  • Mean serum VEGF concentrations were significantly elevated in hypertensive rats (120.55 ± 8.11 vs. 88.58 ± 2.24 pg/ml, p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Reduced serum NO and elevated serum VEGF levels in hypertensive rats suggest impaired endothelial function.
  • These findings support the role of endothelial dysfunction in the pathophysiology of hypertension.
  • NO and VEGF may serve as potential biomarkers for assessing hypertension-related endothelial dysfunction.

More Related Videos

Evaluation of Cerebral Blood Flow Autoregulation in the Rat Using Laser Doppler Flowmetry07:12

Evaluation of Cerebral Blood Flow Autoregulation in the Rat Using Laser Doppler Flowmetry

Published on: January 19, 2020

Analytical Techniques for Assaying Nitric Oxide Bioactivity11:28

Analytical Techniques for Assaying Nitric Oxide Bioactivity

Published on: June 18, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway01:28

Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway

Nitric oxide (NO), an inorganic gas, acts as a potent second messenger in most animal and plant tissues. NO diffuses out of the cells that produce it and enters the neighboring cells to generate a downstream response. NO synthase (NOS) catalyzes NO production by the deamination of the amino acid arginine. There are three isoforms of NOS. Endothelial cells have endothelial NOS (eNOS), nerve and muscle cells have neuronal NOS (nNOS), and macrophages produce inducible NOS (iNOS) upon exposure to...
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology01:29

Hypertension II: Pathophysiology

Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the blood's force against artery walls is excessively high, posing risks such as heart disease. The condition's underlying mechanisms involve complex interactions among the cardiovascular, kidney, and autonomic nervous systems.Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system significantly influences blood pressure regulation. When blood pressure decreases, the kidneys secrete renin. This enzyme transforms angiotensinogen, a plasma protein,...
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure01:18

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators01:23

Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators

Vasodilators, primarily affecting the smooth muscles within arterial and venous walls, are commonly used for hypertension treatment. Medications such as minoxidil and hydralazine primarily target arteries and arterioles, while sodium nitroprusside acts on arterioles and venules. Minoxidil, functioning as a prodrug, is metabolized by hepatic sulfotransferase into its active form, minoxidil sulfate, after oral administration. This metabolite binds to the sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) component of...
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:30

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology01:26

Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) originates from a series of events that impair the function of coronary arteries, the blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. The pathophysiology of CAD is closely linked to atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory and lipid-driven condition affecting the vascular endothelium.1. Endothelial DamageThe process begins with damage to the vascular endothelium, which serves as a protective barrier between the blood and the vessel...