Apelin/APJ expression in the heart and kidneys of hypertensive rats

• Published in: Acta histochemica Vol. 120; no. 3; pp. 196 - 204
• Main Authors: Sekerci, Rahime, Acar, Nuray, Tepekoy, Filiz, Ustunel, Ismail, Keles-Celik, Nigar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Elsevier GmbH 01-04-2018
• Subjects: Animals; Apelin; Apelin - metabolism; Apelin Receptors - metabolism; Blotting, Western; Body Weight; Disease Models, Animal; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Heart; Hypertension; Hypertension - chemically induced; Immunohistochemistry; Kidney; Kidney - metabolism; L-NAME; Myocardium - metabolism; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester - toxicity; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reference Standards; Hypertension; Heart; L-NAME; Kidney; Apelin
• ISSN: 0065-1281; 1618-0372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2018.01.007

Hypertension is an important health problem that is manifested by systemic arterial blood pressure being permanently elevated and leading to serious complications. Hypertension is the basis for coronary heart diseases, heart failure, kidney damage, cerebrovascular diseases. Due to ethical concerns, there is no detailed study of the mechanism, side effects and treatment of hypertension in humans. For this reason, specific studies related to the organ of hypertension are performed in experimental animals. The heart and kidney tissue, which are the most important organs that hypertension has damaged, have formed specific organs of our work.
In our experimental study, a total of 35 (hypertensive group: 20, control group: 15) Rattus Norvegicus Wistar albino rats were used. In order to obtain our hypertension model, our experimental animals were given L-NAME together with drinking water for six weeks. After six weeks, the experimental procedures were terminated. Heart and kidney tissues of the hypertensive and control group were obtained. Expression of apelin and apelin receptor (APJ) was demonstrated by immunohistochemical and Western Blot protocols.
Hypertrophic cardiac atrium of the hearts of the large cavities, interventricular septum and myocardium to the disintegration, as well as an increase in the diameter of the coronary artery has been observed. In general, kidney tissues of the hypertensive group showed narrowing in cortical renal structures and enlargement in structures in the renal medulla.
As a result, in hypertensive cases, there was an increase in expression of Apelin and APJ receptor in heart tissue, and a decrease in expression of Apelin and APJ receptor in kidney tissue. We think that our findings may contribute to experimental or clinical studies related to hypertension and apelin.