Decreased erythrocyte NA+,K+-ATPase activity and increased plasma TBARS in prehypertensive patients

The essential hypertension has been associated with membrane cell damage. The aim of the present study is investigate the relationship between erythrocyte Na(+),K(+)-ATPase and lipoperoxidation in prehypertensive patients compared to normotensive status. The present study involved the prehypertensive patients (systolic: 136 ± 7 mmHg; diastolic: 86.8 ± 6.3 mmHg; n = 8) and healthy men with normal blood pressure (systolic: 110 ± 6.4 mmHg; diastolic: 76.1 ± 4.2 mmHg; n = 8) who were matched for age (35 ± 4 years old). The venous blood samples of antecubital vein (5 mL) were collected into a tube containing sodium heparin as anticoagulant (1000 UI), and erythrocyte ghosts were prepared for quantifying Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity. The extent of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was determined in plasma. The statistical analysis was carried out by Student's t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. A P < 0.05 was considered significant. The Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity was lower in prehypertensive patients compared with normotensive subjects (4.9 versus 8.0 nmol Pi/mg protein/min; P < 0.05). The Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity correlated negatively with TBARS content (r = -0.6; P < 0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.84; P < 0.05). The present study suggests that Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity reduction and elevation of the TBARS content may underlie the pathophysiological aspects linked to the prehypertensive status.