Apelin elevates blood pressure in ICR mice with L‑NAME‑induced endothelial dysfunction

Nagano,Katsumasa; Ishida,Junji; Unno,Madoka; Matsukura,Tanomu; Fukamizu,Akiyoshi

doi:10.3892/mmr.2013.1378

Apelin elevates blood pressure in ICR mice with L‑NAME‑induced endothelial dysfunction

Authors:
- Katsumasa Nagano
- Junji Ishida
- Madoka Unno
- Tanomu Matsukura
- Akiyoshi Fukamizu
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Affiliations: Life Science Center, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305‑8577, Japan, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305‑8577, Japan
Published online on: March 15, 2013 https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2013.1378
Pages: 1371-1375
Copyright: © Nagano et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY_NC 3.0].

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Abstract

Apelin is the endogenous ligand of APJ, which belongs to the family of G protein‑coupled receptors. Apelin and APJ are highly expressed in various cardiovascular tissues, including the heart, kidney and vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Although apelin exerts hypotensive effects via activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), the ability of apelin to regulate blood pressure under pathological conditions is poorly understood. In the current study, NG‑nitro‑L‑arginine methyl ester (L‑NAME), a potent NOS inhibitor, was administered chronically, to induce peripheral vascular damage in mice. L‑NAME‑treated mice exhibited hypertension, increased vascular cell adhesion molecule‑1 and plasminogen activator inhibitor‑1 mRNA levels in the aorta and impaired vasodilatation associated with decreased aortic eNOS expression, consistent with endothelial damage. Three days following withdrawal of L‑NAME treatment, the blood pressure response to apelin stimulation was assessed. Although apelin reduced blood pressure in non‑treated mice, it was found to transiently elevate blood pressure in L‑NAME‑treated mice. These results indicate that apelin functions as a vasopressor peptide under pathological conditions, including vascular endothelial dysfunction in mice.

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