Disturbed circadian activity of the sympathetic system may be involved in negative consequences of chronodisruption on the cardiovascular system. We studied daily changes in pressure response to adrenergic stimulation in rats exposed to repeated phase advance shifts (PAS) of light/dark (LD) regimen. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and locomotor activity was measured by radiotelemetry in normotensive Wistar rats exposed to repeated PAS (three 8-h shifts per week) lasting for 12 weeks. Norepinephrine was administered subcutaneously in the middle of L and D during week 12 of PAS exposure. In the control LD cycle, cardiovascular parameters exhibited significant daily rhythms with expected higher values during D than L phase. Rats exposed to PAS showed disturbed rhythms without a BP and HR increase. Administration of norepinephrine to control rats revealed daily variability in the cardiovascular response with higher stimulation of BP during L than D. This daily pattern of BP response to norepinephrine was diminished in the PAS group. The damped daily variability in pressure response to norepinephrine and augmented response during the light phase of the day suggest that the increased and desynchronized activity of the sympathetic system may worsen responses of the cardiovascular system to load in individuals exposed to irregular LD conditions., L. Molcan, A. Vesela, M. Zeman., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Increased blood pressure variability (BPV) and decreased interbeat interval (heart rate, respectively) variability (IBIV, HRV respectively) are associated with cardiovascular disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of BPV and IBIV (HRV) in young healthy individuals. Blood pressure and inter-beat intervals (instantaneous values of heart rate, respectively) were recorded beat-to-beat at rest (5 min, Finapres, breathing at 0.33 Hz) in 152 subjects (19-24 years) 3 times in periods of one week. Systolic (SBPV0.1r/SBPV0.1a) and diastolic (DBPV0.1r/DBPV0.1a) blood pressure variability in relative (r.u.) and absolute (mmHg2/Hz) units and inter-beat interval (IBIV0.1r/IBIV0.1a,), or heart rate (HRV0.1r/HRV0.1a) variability in relative (r.u.) and absolute (ms2/Hz, resp. mHz2) units were determined by the spectral method as spectral power at the frequency of 0.1 Hz and 0.33 Hz (SBPV0.33r/SBPV0.33a, DBPV0.33r/DBPV0.33a, IBIV0.33r/IBIV0.33a, HRV0.33r/HRV0.33a). All indices of BPV and IBIV (resp. HRV) revealed a lower intraindividual than interindividual variability (ANOVA; p<0.001). The mean values of all indices in each subject significantly correlated with distribution of individual values in the same subject (Pearson's correlation coefficient; p<0.001). Blood pressure and inter-beat interval (heart rate) variability is an individual characteristic feature., M. Jíra ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
As wine polyphenols were show n to possess many positive effects in mammals, including improvement of vascular function, this study investigated the effect of the Slovak Alibernet red wine extract (AWE) on blood pressure and vascular function in young normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats. Six weeks old, male, WKY and SHR were treated with AWE for three weeks at the dose of 24.2 mg/kg/day. Blood pressure (BP), determined by tail-cuff plethysmography, was significantly elevated in SHR vs. WKY and AWE failed to affect it. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated by determination of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. Vascular function was assessed in rings of the femoral artery using Mulvany-Halpern’s myograph. Maximal endothelium-dependent acetylcholine (ACh)-induced rela xation was reduced in control SHR vs. WKY rats by approximatel y 9.3 %, which was associated with a significant decrease of its NO-independent component. AWE failed to affect maximal AC h-induced relaxation, both its NO-dependent and independen t components, compared to controls of the same genotype. AWE however reduced lipid peroxidation in the left ventricle of both WKY and SHR and in the liver of SHR. In conclusion, three-week administration of AWE failed to reduce BP and to improve endothelial function in the femoral arteries of both genotypes investigated., P. Bališ ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), an endogenous “gasotransmitter”, exists in the central nervous system. However, the central cardiovascular effects of endogenous H2S are not fully determined. The present study was designed to investigate the central cardiovascular effects and its possible mechanism in anesthetized rats. Intracerebrovent ricular (icv) injection of NaHS (0.17~17 μ g) produced a significant and dose-dependent decrease in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) (P<0.05) compared to control. The higher dose of NaHS (17 μ g, n=6) decreased BP and HR quickly of rats and 2 of them died of respiratory paralyse. Icv injection of the cystathionine beta-synthetase (CBS) activator s-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM, 26 μ g) also produced a significant hypotension and bradycardia, which were similar to the results of icv injection of NaHS. Furthermore, the hypotension and bradycardia induced by icv NaHS were effectively attenuated by pretreatment with the KATP channel blocker glibenclamide but not with the CBS inhibitor hydroxylamine. The present study suggests that icv injection of NaHS produces hypotension and bradycardia, which is dependent on the KATP channel activation., W.-Q. Liu ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The glycosaminoglycan (GAG) molecules are a group of high molecular weight, negatively charged polysaccharides present abundantly in the mammalian organism. By their virtue of ion and water binding capacity, they may affect the redistribution of body fluids and ultimately the blood pressure. Data from the literature suggests that the mitogens Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)-A and VEGF-C are able to regulate the amount and charge density of GAGs and their detachment from the cell surface. Based on these findings we investigated the relationship between the level of dietary sodium intake, the expression levels of VEGF-A and VEGF-C, and the amount of the skin GAGs hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate in an in vivo rat model. Significant correlation between dietary sodium intake, skin sodium levels and GAG content was found. We confirmed the GAG synthesizing role of VEGF-C but failed to prove that GAGs are degraded by VEGF-A. No significant difference in blood pressure was registered between the different dietary groups. A quotient calculated form the ion and water content of the skin tissue samples suggests that - in contrast to previous findings - the osmotically inactive ions and bound water fractions are proportional., D. Sugár, R. Agócs, E. Tatár, G. Tóth, P. Horváth, E. Sulyok, A. J. Szabó., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We investigated the effect of pertussis toxin (PTX) on hypotensive response induced by acetylcholine (ACh) and bradykinin (BK) and on noradrenaline (NA)-induced pressor response in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Fifteen-week-old Wistar rats and age-matched SHR were used. Half of SHR received PTX (10 μg/kg/i.v.) and the experiments were performed 48 h later. After the anesthesia the right carotid artery was cannulated in order to record blood pressure (BP). The hypotensive response to ACh was enhanced in SHR compared to Wistar rats. After pretreatment of SHR with PTX the hypotensive response to ACh was reduced compared to untreated SHR and it was also diminished in comparison to Wistar rats. Similarly, the hypotensive response to BK was also decreased after PTX pretreatment. The pressor response to NA was increased in SHR compared to Wistar rats. NA-induced pressor response was considerably decreased after PTX pretreatment compared to untreated SHR. In conclusion, the enhancement of hypotensive and pressor responses in SHR was abolished after PTX pretreatment. Our results suggested that the activation of PTX-sensitive inhibitory Gi proteins is involved in the regulation of integrated vasoactive responses in SHR and PTX pretreatment could be effectively used for modification of BP regulation in this type of experimental hypertension., S. Čačányiová, F. Kristek, J. Kuneš, J. Zicha., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
ncreased systemic vascular resistance is responsible for blood pressure (BP) elevation in most forms of human or experimental hypertension. The enhanced contractility of structurally remodeled resistance arterioles is mediated by enhanced calcium entry (through L type voltagedependent calcium channels - L-VDCC) and/or augmented calcium sensitization (mediated by RhoA/Rho kinase pathway). It is rather difficult to evaluate separately the role of these two pathways in BP control because BP response to the blockade of either pathway is always dependent on the concomitant activity of the complementary pathway. Moreover, vasoconstrictor systems enhance the activity of both pathways, while vasodilators attenuate them. The basal fasudil-sensitive calcium sensitization determined in rats deprived of endogenous renin-angiotensi n system (RAS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in wh ich calcium entry was dose- dependently increased by L-VDCC opener BAY K8644, is smaller in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) than in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. In co ntrast, if endogenous RAS and SNS were present in intact rats, fasudil caused a greater BP fall in SHR than WKY rats. Our in vivo experiments indicated that the endogenous pressor systems (RAS and SNS) augment calcium sensitization mediated by RhoA/Rho kinase pathway, whereas the endogenous vasodilator systems (such as nitric oxide) attenuate this pathway. However, the modulation of calcium entry and calcium sensitization by nitric oxide is strain-dependent because NO deficiency significan tly augments low calcium entry in WKY and low calcium sensitization in SHR. Further in vivo and in vitro experiments should clarify the interrelationships between endogenous vasoactive systems an d the contribution of calcium entry and/or calcium sensitization to BP maintenance in various forms of experimental hypertension., J. Zicha ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The aim of this study was to obtain a detailed analysis of the relationship between the finger arterial compliance C [ml/mm Hg] and the arterial transmural pressure Pt [mm Hg]. We constructed a dynamic plethysmograph enabling us to set up a constant pressure Pcss [mm Hg] and a superimposed fast pressure vibration in the finger cuff (equipped with a source of infra-red light and a photoelectric sensor for the measurement of arterial volume). Pcss could be set on the required time interval in steps ranging between 30 and 170 mm Hg, and on sinusoidal pressure oscillation with an amplitude Pca (2 mm Hg) and a frequency f (20, 25, 30, 35, 40 Hz). At the same time continuous blood pressure BP was measured on the adjacent finger (Portapres). We described the volume dependence of a unitary arterial length on the time-varying transmural pressure acting on the arterial wall (externally Pcss+Pca.sin(2πf), internally BP) by a second-order differential equation for volume. This equation was linearized within a small range of selected BP. In the next step, a Fourier transform was applied to obtain the frequency characteristic in analytic form of a complex linear combination of frequency functions. While series of oscillations [Pca, f] were applied for each Pcss, the corresponding response of the plethysmogram was measured. Amplitude spectra were obtained to estimate coefficients of the frequency characteristic by regression analysis. We determined the absolute value: elastance E, and its inverse value: compliance (C=1/E). Then, C=C(Pt) was acquired by applying sequences of oscillations for different Pcss (and thus Pt) by the above-described procedure. This methodology will be used for the study of finger arterial compliance in different physiological and pathological conditions., J. Moudr, J. Svačinová, E. Závodná, N. Honzíková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR/NIH strain) harbor a deletion variant in the Cd36 fatty acid transporter and display defective fatty acid metabolism, insulin resistance and hypertension. Transgenic rescue of Cd36 in SHR ameliorates insulin resistance and improves dyslipidemia. However, the role of Cd36 in blood pressure regulation remains controversial due to inconsistent blood pressure effects that were observed with transgenic expression of Cd36 on the SHR background. In the current studies, we developed two new SHR transgenic lines, which express wild type Cd36 under the control of the universal Ef-1 promoter, and examined the effects of transgenic expression of wild type Cd36 on selected metabolic and cardiovascular phenotypes. Transgenic expression of Cd36 in the new lines was associated with significantly decreased serum fatty acids, amelioration of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance but failed to induce any consistent changes in blood pressure as measured by radiotelemetry. The current findings confirm the genetic association of defective Cd36 with disordered insulin action and fatty acid metabolism in the SHR/NIH strain and suggest that Cd36 is linked to other gene(s) on rat chromosome 4 that regulate blood pressure., M. Pravenec, V. Landa, V. Zídek, A. Musilová, L. Kazdová, N. Qi, J. Wang, E. St.Lezin, T. W. Kurtz., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of our study was to evaluate the potential differences in blood pressure (BP) profile in subjects with different forms of primary aldosteronism (PA). Simultaneously, we studied the effects of PA treatment on BP curve. We therefore monitored 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure values in 22 subjects with aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), 22 subjects with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA) and 33 subjects with essential hypertension (EH) as controls. We found a significantly attenuated nighttime systolic BP decline in the APA group (P=0.02). Patients with IHA had lower nighttime systolic BP values (P=0.01) and also a diastolic BP decline (P=0.02) during the night in comparison with EH. We did not detect any significant differences in BP profile characteristics between APA and IHA. Specific treatment of primary aldosteronism (adrenalectomy, treatment with spironolactone) led to the normalization of the BP curve with a marked BP decline. Our study thus demonstrates a blunted diurnal BP variability in patients with primary aldosteronism the specific treatment of which normalized previously attenuated nocturnal BP fall., T. Zelinka, J. Widimský., and Obsahuje bibliografii