Alterations to the vascular vasodepressor prostaglandin system in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats and their enzymatic analysis

To define the roles of vascular prostacyclin (PGI2) synthase for PGI2 generation in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension, we investigated PGI2 synthase, phospholipase A2 and phospholipase C activities in the aortic wall of DOCA-salt prehypertensive and established hypertensive rats. Vascular PGI2 generation in the DOCA-salt hypertensive rats was increased by 91%, and was associated with an 88% increase in PGI2 synthase activity and lowered phospholipase C and A2 activity. In the prehypertensive stage, DOCA-salt rats showed reduced vascular PGI2 generation. Prostacyclin synthase activity was equal to that of controls. These data clearly suggest that DOCA-salt hypertensive rats increase their vascular PGI2 generation when they develop hypertension, and that this may be due to the activation of vascular PGI2 synthase.