›› 2012, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (3): 269-.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2012.03.007

• Original article (Basic research) • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 and angiotensin converting enzyme in thoracic aorta in hypertensive rats induced by N-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester

XU Meng-dan, DAI Qiu-yan, LIU Shao-wen   

  1. Department of Cardiology, the First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China
  • Online:2012-03-28 Published:2012-03-28
  • Supported by:

    Shanghai Science and Technology Committee Foundation, 09JC1412300；Foundation of the First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 060867

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Abstract:

Objective To investigate the activity and mRNA expression of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and ACE2 in thoracic aorta in hypertensive rats, and explore the role of ACE2 and ACE2/ACE in regulation of hypertension. Methods Forty age-matched SD rats with normal blood pressure were divided into model group and control group, with 20 rats in each group. Hypertension model was established in rats in model group by administration of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) in drinking water (50 mg/100 mL, 50 mg/kg per day), and rats in model group were subdivided into 4 subgroups according to time of treatment (2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks), with 5 rats in each subgroup. Similar subgroups were established in control group, and same amount of clear water was taken in each group at corresponding time. The activity of ACE and ACE2 in thoracic aorta was determined by high performance liquid chromatography, and the expression of ACE and ACE2 mRNA in thoracic aorta was detected by RT-PCR. Results The blood pressure of rats in model group was significantly higher than that in control group 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment with L-NAME (P<0.05), while there was no significant change in blood pressure after intervention in each subgroup of control group (P>0.05). The activity and relative mRNA expression of ACE in thoracic aorta in model group were significantly higher than those in control group 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment with L-NAME (P<0.05), while the activity and relative mRNA expression of ACE2 in thoracic aorta in model group were significantly lower than those in control group 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment with L-NAME (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the activity and relative mRNA expression of ACE and ACE2 among subgroups of control group (P>0.05). Conclusion The activity and mRNA expression of ACE and ACE2 in thoracic aorta of rats are associated with the increase of blood pressure during the development of hypertension induced by NO synthesis inhibition.

Key words: angiotensin converting enzyme, angiotensin converting enzyme 2, Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester