[Expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase in hypertrophic myocardium in SHRsp]

To explore whether myocardial mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) play an important role in hypertensive cardiac remodeling.

We compared myocardial MAPK activity by phosphocellular method and its localization and distribution by immunohistology in hypertrophic myocardium in SHRsp at age of 34 weeks (34 w group) and 54 weeks (54 w group) with age matched WKY served as control.

SHRsp was compared with WKY. The heart weight to body weight ratio was significantly increased in both groups. Myocardial MAPK activity increased 1.81 fold in the 34 w group and 1.46 fold in the 54 w group. MAPK expressed abundantly in hypertrophic myocardium, mainly localized in interstitial cells.

MAPK might be a major pathway of transducing hypertrophic signals.