Effect of dietary salt on the skeletal muscle microvasculature in Dahl rats

Comparison of Mean VEGF-A Expression Between Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients and Non-Ischemic Stroke Subjects

BACKGROUND

Glucose and oxygen supply to neurons are disrupted during acute ischemic stroke, resulting in hypoxia. This event, in turn, activates the transcription of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1), which is responsible for activating genes responsible for angiogenesis, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF and their receptor systems exert complex mechanisms of angiogenesis, including the stimulator, inhibitors, angiogenic and modulator. VEGF-A is the primary regulator of angiogenesis, both during physiological and pathological conditions. Nevertheless, the role of VEGF on the prognosis of hypoxia remains controversial.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to address if there is any difference between the mean expression of VEGF-A between acute ischemic patients and non-ischemic stroke subjects.

METHODS

This was an observational study with a cross-sectional design, the population in this research is the acute ischemic stroke patients and non-ischemic stroke subjects, which were admitted on Emergency Room and later treated in the Stroke Unit, Dr Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Subjects were recruited using the purposive method, yielding a total of 64 subjects on both groups. Diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke was established using a head CT scan. Patients who meet the inclusion criteria and willing to participate in the study were asked to provide informed consent. Laboratory analysis was conducted during the first 24 hours after being treated at Stroke Unit, Dr Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, with venous blood was withdrawn VEGF-A levels between acute ischemic stroke and non-ischemic stroke subjects were subsequently compared. Categorical variables (including gender) were tested using either chi-square or Fisher exact test. Interval data was examined using student t-test if data distribution was normal.

RESULTS

As many as 35 acute ischemic stroke and 35 non-ischemic stroke patients were included in the study, among whom were 18 men (51.43%) and 17 women (48.57%) among stroke patients and 21 (60%) men and 14 (40%) women among subjects without stroke. The average of the subject's age on stroke and non-ischemic stroke group was 58.51 and 48.57 years old. VEGF-A levels were significantly higher in the non-stroke group (561.77 ± 377.92) compared with stroke group (397.78 ± 181.53) with p = 0.02.

CONCLUSION

expression of VEGF-A in acute ischemic stroke group was lower when compared with the non-stroke group.

Age-dependent salt hypertension in Dahl rats: fifty years of research

Fifty years ago, Lewis K. Dahl has presented a new model of salt hypertension - salt-sensitive and salt-resistant Dahl rats. Twenty years later, John P. Rapp has published the first and so far the only comprehensive review on this rat model covering numerous aspects of pathophysiology and genetics of salt hypertension. When we summarized 25 years of our own research on Dahl/Rapp rats, we have realized the need to outline principal abnormalities of this model, to show their interactions at different levels of the organism and to highlight the ontogenetic aspects of salt hypertension development. Our attention was focused on some cellular aspects (cell membrane function, ion transport, cell calcium handling), intra- and extrarenal factors affecting renal function and/or renal injury, local and systemic effects of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, endothelial and smooth muscle changes responsible for abnormal vascular contraction or relaxation, altered balance between various vasoconstrictor and vasodilator systems in blood pressure maintenance as well as on the central nervous and peripheral mechanisms involved in the regulation of circulatory homeostasis. We also searched for the age-dependent impact of environmental and pharmacological interventions, which modify the development of high blood pressure and/or organ damage, if they influence the salt-sensitive organism in particular critical periods of development (developmental windows). Thus, severe self-sustaining salt hypertension in young Dahl rats is characterized by pronounced dysbalance between augmented sympathetic hyperactivity and relative nitric oxide deficiency, attenuated baroreflex as well as by a major increase of residual blood pressure indicating profound remodeling of resistance vessels. Salt hypertension development in young but not in adult Dahl rats can be attenuated by preventive increase of potassium or calcium intake. On the contrary, moderate salt hypertension in adult Dahl rats is attenuated by superoxide scavenging or endothelin-A receptor blockade which do not affect salt hypertension development in young animals.

Angiotensin II infusion restores stimulated angiogenesis in the skeletal muscle of rats on a high-salt diet

Elevated dietary salt intake has previously been demonstrated to have dramatic effects on microvascular structure and function. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a high-salt diet modulates physiological angiogenesis in skeletal muscle. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were placed on a control diet (0.4% NaCl by weight) or a high-salt diet (4.0% NaCl) before implantation of a chronic electrical stimulator. After seven consecutive days of unilateral hindlimb muscle stimulation, animals on control diets demonstrated a significant increase in microvessel density in the tibialis anterior muscle of the stimulated hindlimb relative to the contralateral control leg. High salt-fed rats demonstrated a complete inhibition of this angiogenic response, as well as a significant reduction in plasma ANG II levels compared with those of control animals. To investigate the role of ANG II suppression on the inhibitory effect of high-salt diets, a group of rats that were fed high salt were chronically infused with ANG II at a low dose. Maintenance of ANG II levels restored stimulated angiogenesis to control levels in animals fed a high-salt diet. Western blot analysis indicated that inhibition of angiogenesis in high salt-fed rats was not due to changes in VEGF or VEGF receptor type 1 protein expression in response to stimulation; however, the degree to which VEGF receptor 2 protein increased with stimulation was significantly lower in high salt-fed animals. This study demonstrates an inhibitory effect of high salt intake on stimulated angiogenesis and suggests a critical role for ANG II suppression in mediating this antiangiogenic effect.

Microvascular adaptation to changes in dietary sodium is disturbed in patients with essential hypertension

BACKGROUND

Several studies have shown microvascular changes in patients with hypertension, but the question is still open as to whether these alterations are functional or structural. In particular, it is unknown whether the microcirculation adapts to changes in sodium intake or remains relatively fixed.

METHODS

We examined bulbar conjunctival microvascular densities after 1 week of low (55 mmol Na+/24 h) and high (220 mmol Na+/24 h) sodium diet, in untreated patients with essential hypertension and in normotensive control subjects.

RESULTS

On a low sodium diet, venular density was lower in essential hypertension (EH) compared with controls [median and interquartile ranges: 4.77 (4.01-5.71) versus 6.43 (6.02-7.20) mm/mm2, P = 0.001], while arteriolar density was higher [3.80 (2.41-4.46) versus 2.06 (1.74-2.23) mm/mm2, P = 0.03]. In the whole group (patients and controls), venular density correlated inversely and arteriolar density correlated positively with mean arterial pressure (MAP). Switching to a high sodium intake resulted in opposite responses in the two groups with respect to venular density (P = 0.0001): a 33% (3-80) increase in EH, but a 28% (-3 to 34) decrease in controls. Changes in venular density with increased sodium intake correlated positively with MAP on a low sodium diet in the whole group. Arteriolar density did not change significantly in either group. Also, capillary density was similar on both diets.

CONCLUSION

Functional microvascular density in EH patients differs from that in normotensive subjects in a way that is dependent upon sodium intake.

Acute elevations in salt intake and reduced renal mass hypertension compromise arteriolar dilation in rat cremaster muscle

Alterations in arteriolar reactivity to dilator agonists were assessed in the skeletal muscle microcirculation of normotensive male Sprague-Dawley rats fed either high- (4% NaCl; HS) or low- (0. 4% NaCl; LS) salt diets and in reduced renal mass hypertensive rats (RRM-HT) on a high-salt diet for 3 days. An in situ cremaster muscle preparation was superfused with physiological salt solution, transilluminated, and viewed via television microscopy. A videomicrometer was used to measure changes in diameter of distal arterioles in response to increasing concentrations of acetylcholine (ACH), iloprost (ILO), cholera toxin (CT), forskolin (FOR), and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Arteriolar dilation in response to ACH, ILO, and CT was significantly reduced in both HS and RRM-HT rats, while responses to FOR and SNP were decreased in RRM-HT rats only. The maximum dilation of the arterioles (determined during superfusion of the muscle with Ca2+-free solution containing 10(-4) M adenosine) was similar in the normotensive control animals on LS and HS diets, but was reduced in the RRM-HT rats, suggesting that early anatomic remodeling of the vessel wall may be occurring with RRM-HT. We conclude that arteriolar reactivity to endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilator agonists is impaired as early as 3 days after the development of RRM hypertension or commencement of a high-salt diet in normotensive rats. Structural remodeling of the arteriolar wall, although becoming evident in the hypertensive rats, takes longer to develop than the impaired vasodilator reactivity.

Lack of vasodilatory response in skeletal muscle blood vessels of aged spontaneously hypertensive rats

Regional hemodynamic responses to the vasodilators, hydralazine (1 mg/kg, i.v.) and verapamil (0.1 mg/kg/min, i.v.), were examined in conscious Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), 15 and 50 weeks of age, using the radioactive microsphere method. The flow rates of heart and skeletal muscle in SHR were higher than those in WKY, and the flow rates of liver, kidney, intestines, and skin in SHR were lower than those in WKY. These differences between the regional blood flow in WKY and SHR were observed in both aged and young rats. The changes in organ blood flow induced by hydralazine and verapamil were similar for WKY and SHR in most organs. Both drugs increased the skeletal muscle blood flow in WKY and young SHR, but not in aged SHR, that is, the skeletal muscle blood vessels in aged SHR lost their vasodilatory response. These results suggest that, although a lack of vasodilatory responses in the skeletal muscle vasculature of aged SHR may be triggered by persistent hypertension, the vital organ vasculature maintains its normal vasodilating capacity.

Carotid artery mechanical properties of Dahl salt-sensitive rats

We evaluated the mechanical properties of the carotid artery in anesthetized Dahl rats with or without long-term treatment with the diuretic compound indapamide. The mechanical properties of the carotid artery were evaluated by establishing pressure-volume curves in situ in vivo before and after total relaxation of arterial smooth muscle by potassium cyanide. Dahl salt-sensitive and salt-resistant rats were fed either a low (0.4%) or high (7%) NaCl diet for 5 weeks. In each group, half the rats received for the same period of time oral treatment with indapamide (3 mg/kg per day). Blood pressure, heart rate, and pressure-volume curves were studied at the end of the 5-week period. In untreated Dahl salt-sensitive rats, the pressure-volume curve of the carotid artery was shifted to the right compared with that in untreated Dahl salt-resistant rats. The finding was observed even after potassium cyanide and regardless of the NaCl diet (P < .01 between Dahl salt-sensitive and -resistant rats). Indapamide was able to prevent the development of hypertension in Dahl salt-sensitive rats receiving a high NaCl diet (185 +/- 7 versus 146 +/- 8 mm Hg in untreated and treated Dahl salt-sensitive rats with a high NaCl diet, P < .0005). In the other groups, indapamide had no effect on blood pressure. Indapamide treatment increased carotid arterial static compliance in Dahl salt-sensitive rats with a high or low NaCl diet and to a lesser extent in Dahl salt-resistant rats. The increase was observed even after total relaxation of carotid arterial smooth muscle by potassium cyanide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Circulating leukocyte counts, activation, and degranulation in Dahl hypertensive rats

Previous evidence has shown that rats with spontaneous hypertension have on average about twice as many circulating leukocytes in comparison with their normotensive counterparts, the Wistar-Kyoto rats. Since such high levels of leukocytes may increase the risk for vascular complications for hypertensive animals, it is useful to ascertain whether a comparable derangement is present in other forms of hypertension. The present study deals with the properties of the circulating leukocytes in rats exhibiting another form of experimental hypertension; Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl-S) hypertensive rats were compared with Dahl salt-resistant (Dahl-R) control rats. Measurements were performed to determine the following: circulating hematocrit levels, leukocyte counts, differential counts, number of activated leukocytes (by means of nitro blue tetrazolium [NBT] reduction), leukocyte adhesion in vitro and neutrophil CD-18 expression, alkaline phosphatase activity in individual neutrophils and in the plasma, and myeloperoxidase activity in neutrophils. The experimental cohort consisted of Dahl-S and Dahl-R rats maintained for a 6-week period on a 6% NaCl diet. The results show a highly significant elevation in the number of total leukocytes, neutrophil and monocyte counts, and NBT-positive neutrophils and monocytes in Dahl-S but not Dahl-R rats. There was a significant loss of alkaline phosphatase and myeloperoxidase activity in the neutrophils of the salt-treated Dahl-S rats but not in the neutrophils of the untreated Dahl-S or Dahl-R rats. No significant differences were found in neutrophil adhesion under in vitro test conditions between the two strains maintained on the salt diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Reduced influence of nitric oxide on arteriolar tone in hypertensive Dahl rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of endogenous nitric oxide on resting microvascular tone in the Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rat and to determine how this influence is altered in salt-induced hypertension. Intravital microscopy was used to examine the arteriolar network in the spinotrapezius muscle of DS rats maintained on low (0.45% NaCl) or high (4% NaCl) salt diets for 6-7 weeks. Mean arterial pressure for DS rats on high salt (163 +/- 3 mm Hg) was significantly greater than that for DS rats on low salt (128 +/- 4 mm Hg). Inhibition of microvascular nitric oxide synthesis with NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester caused arteriolar constriction in normotensive DS but not in hypertensive DS rats. Application of L-arginine consistently caused arteriolar dilation in normotensive DS but not hypertensive DS rats. In contrast, arteriolar responses to iontophoretically applied acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside were similar in both groups. These results indicate that basal release of nitric oxide, presumably from the endothelium, normally influences arteriolar tone in skeletal muscle of DS rats and that this influence is suppressed in established salt-induced hypertension. However, the normal arteriolar response to acetylcholine in hypertensive DS rats suggests that a generalized impairment of endothelial function may not occur in the microcirculation of these animals. Unaltered arteriolar responsiveness to sodium nitroprusside in hypertensive DS rats also suggests that salt-induced hypertension is not accompanied by a change in the responsiveness of arteriolar smooth muscle to nitric oxide.

Arteriolar network morphology in gracilis muscle of rats with salt-induced hypertension

The purpose of this study was to determine if structural rarefaction of arterioles occurs in the gracilis muscle of Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rats with salt-induced hypertension. Arteriolar network architecture was studied in cleared muscles removed from DS fed either a high (7% NaCl) or low-normal (0.45% NaCl) salt diet for 4 weeks. Muscles removed from Dahl salt-resistant (DR) rats on high and low-normal salt diets served as controls. The 7% NaCl diet had no effect on arterial pressure in DR, but caused marked hypertension in DS. The density of arcade arterioles was significantly lower in DS than in DR (0.77 vs 1.26 segments/mg tissue, respectively) and was unrelated to either dietary salt content or mean arterial pressure in both strains. The number of transverse arterioles/mm parent vessel was 19% lower in DS on 7% NaCl than in DS on 0.45% NaCl and DR on either diet. These data indicate that compared to normotensive DR, the DS rat with salt-induced hypertension exhibits a lower vascular density within both the arcading and the transverse portions of the gracilis muscle arteriolar network. The lower arcade vessel density reflects an inherent characteristic of the DS strain, whereas the lower transverse arteriole density reflects a true structural rarefaction associated with salt-induced hypertension.