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Apelin/APJ expression in the heart and kidneys of hypertensive rats

Rahime Sekerci1, Nuray Acar2, Filiz Tepekoy3

  • 1Department of Anatomy, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine Antalya, Turkey.

Acta Histochemica
|February 4, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Hypertension significantly alters heart and kidney tissues. Apelin and APJ receptor expression increased in hypertensive rat hearts but decreased in kidneys, suggesting a role in disease progression.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Renal Physiology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Hypertension is a major health issue causing severe complications like heart failure and kidney damage.
  • Ethical constraints limit human studies on hypertension mechanisms, necessitating animal models.
  • Heart and kidney tissues are primary targets of hypertensive damage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression of apelin and its receptor (APJ) in the heart and kidney of a rat model of hypertension.
  • To understand the impact of induced hypertension on cardiac and renal structures.
  • To explore the potential role of the apelin/APJ system in hypertension-related organ damage.

Main Methods:

  • Hypertension was induced in Wistar albino rats using L-NAME for six weeks.
  • Cardiac and renal tissues were collected from hypertensive and control groups.
  • Apelin and APJ expression was analyzed using immunohistochemistry and Western Blot.

Main Results:

  • Hypertensive rats exhibited cardiac hypertrophy, increased coronary artery diameter, and myocardial disintegration.
  • Renal tissues showed cortical narrowing and medullary enlargement in hypertensive rats.
  • Apelin and APJ receptor expression significantly increased in heart tissue but decreased in kidney tissue of hypertensive rats.

Conclusions:

  • Induced hypertension leads to distinct structural changes in the heart and kidneys.
  • The apelin/APJ system shows differential expression in hypertensive heart and kidney tissues.
  • Findings suggest apelin/APJ may play a role in the pathophysiology of hypertension and its organ-specific complications.

Keywords:
ApelinHeartHypertensionKidneyL-NAME

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