Diet-induced mild hyperhomocysteinemia and increased salt intake diminish vascular endothelial function in a synergistic manner

Involvement of nucleus accumbens dopamine D1 receptors in ethanol drinking, ethanol-induced conditioned place preference, and ethanol-induced psychomotor sensitization in mice

RATIONALE

Dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) signaling has been associated to ethanol consumption and reward in laboratory animals.

OBJECTIVES

Here, we hypothesize that this receptor, which is located within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons, modulates alcohol reward mechanisms.

METHODS

To test this hypothesis, we measured alcohol consumption and ethanol-induced psychomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice that received bilateral microinjections of small interference RNA (siRNA)-expressing lentiviral vectors (LV-siD1R) producing D1R knock-down. The other group received control (LV-Mock) viral vectors into the NAc.

RESULTS

There were no differences in the total fluid consumed and also no differences in the amount of ethanol consumed between groups prior to surgery. However, after surgery, the LV-siD1R group consumed less ethanol than the control group. This difference was not associated to taste neophobia. In addition, results have shown that down-regulation of endogenous D1R using viral-mediated siRNA in the NAc significantly decreased ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization as well as acquisition, but not expression, of ethanol-induced place preference.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that decreased D1R expression into the NAc led to reduced ethanol rewarding properties, thereby leading to lower voluntary ethanol consumption. Together, these findings demonstrate that the D1 receptor pathway within the NAc controls ethanol reward and intake.

Differential D1 and D5 receptor regulation and degradation of the angiotensin type 1 receptor

Renal sodium transport is increased by the angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT(1)R), which is counterregulated by dopamine via unknown mechanisms involving either the dopamine type 1 (D(1)R) or dopamine type 5 receptor (D(5)R) that belong to the D(1)-like receptor family of dopamine receptors. We hypothesize that the D(1)R and D(5)R differentially regulate AT(1)R protein expression and signaling, which may have important implications in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. D(1)R and D(5)R share the same agonists and antagonists; therefore, the selective effects of either D(1)R or D(5)R stimulation on AT(1)R expression in human renal proximal tubule cells were determined using antisense oligonucleotides selective to either D(1)R or D(5)R. We also determined the role of receptor tyrosine kinase and the proteosome on the D(1)R/D(5)R-mediated effects on AT(1)R expression and internalization. In renal proximal tubule cells, D(5)R (not D(1)R) decreased AT(1)R expression (half-life: 0.47+/-0.18 hours) and AT(1)R-mediated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation (232+/-18.9 U with angiotensin II [10(-7) mol/L] versus 81+/-8.9 U with angiotensin II [10(-7) mol/L] and fenoldopam [D(1)R/D(5)R agonist; 10(-6) mol/L; P<0.05; n=6). The fenoldopam-induced decrease in AT(1)R expression was reversed by 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl) pyrazolo (3,4-d) pyrimidine (c-Src tyrosine-kinase inhibitor) and clasto-lactacystin beta-lactone (proteasome inhibitor), demonstrating that the fenoldopam-mediated decrease in total cell AT(1)R expression is a result of a c-Src- and proteasome-dependent process. D(5)R stimulation decreases AT(1)R expression and is c-Src and proteasome dependent. The discovery of differential regulation by D(1)R and D(5)R opens new avenues for the development of agonists selective to either receptor subtype as targeted antihypertensive agents that can decrease AT(1)R-mediated antinatriuresis.

Animal and human tissue Na,K-ATPase in normal and insulin-resistant states: regulation, behaviour and interpretative hypothesis on NEFA effects

The sodium(Na)- and potassium(K)-activated adenosine-triphosphatase (Na,K-ATPase) is a membrane enzyme that energizes the Na-pump by hydrolysing adenosine triphosphate and wasting energy as heat, so playing a role in thermogenesis and energy balance. Na,K-ATPase regulation by insulin is controversial; in tissue of hyperglycemic-hyperinsulinemic ob/ob mice, we reported a reduction, whereas in streptozotocin-treated hypoinsulinemic-diabetic Swiss and ob/ob mice we found an increased activity, which is against a genetic defect and suggests a regulation by hyperinsulinemia. In human adipose tissue from obese patients, Na,K-ATPase activity was reduced and negatively correlated with body mass index, oral glucose tolerance test-insulinemic area and blood pressure. We hypothesized that obesity is associated with tissue Na,K-ATPase reduction, apparently linked to hyperinsulinemia, which may repress or inactivate the enzyme, thus opposing thyroid hormones and influencing thermogenesis and obesity development. Insulin action on Na,K-ATPase, in vivo, might be mediated by the high level of non-esterified fatty acids, which are circulating enzyme inhibitors and increase in obesity, diabetes and hypertension. In this paper, we analyse animal and human tissue Na,K-ATPase, its level, and its regulation and behaviour in some hyperinsulinemic and insulin-resistant states; moreover, we discuss the link of the enzyme with non-esterified fatty acids and attempt to interpret and organize in a coherent view the whole body of the exhaustive literature on this complicated topic.

Medium-term methionine supplementation increases plasma homocysteine but not ADMA and improves blood pressure control in rats fed a diet rich in protein and adequate in folate and choline

BACKGROUND

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is associated with cardiovascular risk, possibly because it increases asymmetric dimethyl-arginine (ADMA), but the general association remains unclear and may vary with nutritional and physiological conditions.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We aimed to monitor the effect of methionine supplementation, and subsequent HHcy, on plasma ADMA and hemodynamics in the context of a diet rich in protein and adequate in folic acid and choline.

METHODS

For 6 weeks, rats were fed a 29% protein diet supplemented (M) or not (C) with 8 g/kg L: -methionine. Blood pressure and plasma amino acids, including homocysteine and ADMA, were measured throughout the experiment and additional parameters, including in vivo hemodynamic response to acetylcholine, were measured at week 5-6.

RESULTS

As compared to the C diet, the M diet induced a marked HHcy during the first 3 weeks, which lessened at week 5. In contrast, plasma ADMA stayed similar in the C and M diet. Paradoxically, M rats had lower mean and diastolic blood pressure values over the experiment, together with a lower left ventricular mass at week 6, when compared with C rats. No difference was observed between groups regarding vascular reactivity and plasma NOx at week 6.

CONCLUSIONS

In a context of a diet rich in protein and adequate in methyl donors, rats exhibit a complex adaptation to the medium-term methionine supplementation, with improvement in blood pressure control despite marked HHcy. The lack of increase in plasma ADMA may account for the absence of detrimental effects of HHcy on hemodynamics.

Ginseng Saponins Diminish Adverse Vascular Effects Associated with Chronic Methionine-Induced Hyperhomocysteinemia

Recent studies have shown that Panax ginseng has a variety of beneficial effects on the cardiovascular systems. Homocysteine (Hcy), which is derived from L-methionine (Met), has been closely associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we examined whether in vivo long-term administration of ginseng saponins (GS), active ingredients of Panax ginseng, attenuate adverse vascular effects associated with chronic Met-induced hyperhomocysteinemia (H-Hcy). We found that plasma Hcy level, which was measured after 30 and 60 d, in GS (100 mg/kg)+Met co-administration group was significantly reduced when it was compared with Met alone treatment group. We could also observe the alleviation of endothelial damages of aortic artery vessels in GS (100 mg/kg)+Met co-administration group compared with Met alone treatment group. We compared aortic vasocontractile and vasodilatory responses between Met alone and GS (100 mg/kg)+Met co-treatment groups. We found that norepinephrine-induced vasocontractile responses were greatly decreased in GS (100 mg/kg)+Met co-treatment group and that carbachol-induced dilatory responses were greatly enhanced in GS (100 mg/kg)+Met co-administration groups as compared with Met alone treatment group. The present results indicate that in vivo long-term administration of GS attenuates adverse vascular effects associated with chronic Met-induced H-Hcy in rats.

Chronic Mild Hyperhomocysteinemia Induces Aortic Endothelial Dysfunction but Does Not Elevate Arterial Pressure in Rats

Mild hyperhomocysteinemia is prevalent in the general population and has been linked to endothelial dysfunction and high arterial pressure (AP) in clinical studies. The present study was designed to determine whether a rise in AP was induced by mild hyperhomocysteinemia and whether the potential rise in AP is secondary or prior to endothelial dysfunction. Experiments were performed in a rat model of mild hyperhomocysteinemia induced by oral administration of homocysteine for 1-4 months. Aortic endothelial dysfunction was observed 2 months after homocysteine treatment while endothelium-independent vasodilation was normal. In parallel, homocysteine treatment increased phenylephrine-induced contraction in aortas with endothelium, but did not modify the contraction in aortas without endothelium, suggesting a decrease of basal NO production. In conscious unrestrained rats, AP was not significantly different 1, 2, 3 and 4 months after homocysteine treatment. In correlation, endothelial function of a resistance vessel (mesenteric artery), mainly non-NO nonprostanoid factor mediated, was preserved, indicating that homocysteine treatment only affected the NO pathway. In conclusion, mild hyperhomocysteinemia alone is not sufficient to elevate arterial blood pressure, at least in the rat model. Aortic endothelial dysfunction produced by mild hyperhomocysteinemia is independent of hemodynamic factors.

Cardiac transcriptional response to acute and chronic angiotensin II treatments

Exposure of experimental animals to increased angiotensin II (ANG II) induces hypertension associated with cardiac hypertrophy, inflammation, and myocardial necrosis and fibrosis. Some of the most effective antihypertensive treatments are those that antagonize ANG II. We investigated cardiac gene expression in response to acute (24 h) and chronic (14 day) infusion of ANG II in mice; 24-h treatment induces hypertension, and 14-day treatment induces hypertension and extensive cardiac hypertrophy and necrosis. For genes differentially expressed in response to ANG II treatment, we tested for significant regulation of pathways, based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Microarray Pathway Profiler (GenMAPP) databases, as well as functional classes based on Gene Ontology (GO) terms. Both acute and chronic ANG II treatments resulted in decreased expression of mitochondrial metabolic genes, notably those for the electron transport chain and Krebs-TCA cycle; chronic ANG II treatment also resulted in decreased expression of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism. In contrast, genes involved in protein translation and ribosomal activity increased expression following both acute and chronic ANG II treatments. Some classes of genes showed differential response between acute and chronic ANG II treatments. Acute treatment increased expression of genes involved in oxidative stress and amino acid metabolism, whereas chronic treatments increased cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix genes, second messenger cascades responsive to ANG II, and amyloidosis genes. Although a functional linkage between Alzheimer disease, hypertension, and high cholesterol has been previously documented in studies of brain tissue, this is the first demonstration of induction of Alzheimer disease pathways by hypertension in heart tissue. This study provides the most comprehensive available survey of gene expression changes in response to acute and chronic ANG II treatment, verifying results from disparate studies, and suggests mechanisms that provide novel insight into the etiology of hypertensive heart disease and possible therapeutic interventions that may help to mitigate its effects.