Renal Delivery of Anti-microRNA Oligonucleotides in Rats

MicroRNAs are endogenous small, non-protein-coding RNA molecules that play an important role in the regulation of a wide variety of cellular functions and disease processes. A novel role for microRNAs in the development of hypertension and hypertensive tissue injury is emerging in recent studies. Development of hypertension involves multiple organ systems and cannot be modeled in vitro. Therefore, the ability to experimentally alter genes, gene products, or biological pathways, including microRNAs, in an organ-specific manner in intact animal models is particularly valuable to hypertension research. The kidney plays a central role in the long-term regulation of arterial blood pressure. In this chapter, we describe a detailed protocol for using a renal interstitial injection method to deliver anti-miR oligonucleotides to knock down microRNA specifically in the kidney in conscious rats.