Features of Smooth Muscle Cells of the Thoracic Aorta of SHR Rats in the Early Stages of Arterial Hypertension

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Abstract

Proliferation, contraction and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells of thoracic aortic of SHR were studied at the age of 1-, 2- and 3-week-old rats. Real-time PCR was used to assess proliferation by comparing the relative amounts of genomic DNA between the control and experimental conditions; wound healing assay was used to determine migration; and collagen gel compression assay was used to assess cell contraction. An increased proliferation (by ~20%, p ≤ 0.01) and decreased migration (by ~47%, p ≤ 0.01) and contraction (by ~43%, p ≤ 0.01) were found in aortic smooth muscle cells from 1-week-old SHR compared to normotensive rats. In 2-week-old SHR, the proliferation and migration of aortic smooth muscle cells did not differ from normotensive rats, while the contraction of cells in SHR of this age group was reduced (by ~69%, p ≤ 0.01). In aortic smooth muscle cells of 3-week-old SHR, a decreased proliferation (by ~54%, p ≤ 0.01) and migration (by ~47%, p ≤ 0.01) were observed. Thus, the obtained changes in the studied parameters of thoracic aortic smooth muscle cells of SHR compared to such activities in normotensive rats are observed already in 1-week-old animals in the early neonatal period of development.

About the authors

V. K Zhalimov

Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences

Pushchino, Russia

E. I Meshcheryakova

Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences

Pushchino, Russia

I. M Vikhlyantsev

Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences; Pushchino branch of the Russian Biotechnological University (BIOTECH University)

Pushchino, Russia; Pushchino, Russia

Yu. V Gritsyna

Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: gr123.86@mail.ru
Pushchino, Russia

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