%0 Journal Article
%T Downregulation of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in two-kidney one-clip hypertensive rats
%A Ji-Kuai Chen
%A Ting Zhao
%A Min Ni
%A Dong-Jie Li
%A Xia Tao
%A Fu-Ming Shen
%J BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1471-2261-12-38
%X The 2-kidney 1-clip (2K1C) hypertensive rat model was used. Blood pressure, vagus nerve function, serum tumor necrosis factor-¦Á (TNF-¦Á) and both the mRNA and protein levels of ¦Á7nAChR in tissues from heart, kidney and aorta were measured at 4, 8 and 20 weeks after surgery.Compared with age-matched control, it was found that vagus nerve function was significantly decreased in 2K1C rats with the development of hypertension. Serum levels of TNF-¦Á were greater in 2K1C rats than in age-matched control at 4, 8 and 20 weeks. ¦Á7nAChR mRNA in the heart was not altered in 2K1C rats. In the kidney of 2K1C rats, ¦Á7nAChR expression was significantly decreased at 8 and 20 weeks, but markedly increased at 4 weeks. ¦Á7nAChR mRNA was less in aorta of 2K1C rats than in age-matched control at 4, 8 and 20 weeks. These findings were confirmed at the protein levels of ¦Á7nAChR.Our results suggested that secondary hypertension may induce ¦Á7nAChR downregulation, and the decreased expression of ¦Á7nAChR may contribute to inflammation in 2K1C hypertension.
%K ¦Á7nAChR
%K 2K1C
%K Vagus nerve function
%K Tumor necrosis factor-¦Á
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2261/12/38/abstract