Acta Vet. Brno 2009, 78: 595-602
doi:10.2754/avb200978040595
Aorta Remodelling Associated with Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide Concentration in Rats with Arterial Hypertension
Petra Kochová1,2, Zbyněk Tonar1,2,3, Vít M. Matějka2, Jitka Švíglerová4, Milan Štengl4, Jitka Kuncová4
1Department of Mechanics, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Czech Republic 2Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Pilsen, Czech Republic 3Laboratory for Atherosclerosis Research, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic 4Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Pilsen, Czech Republic
Received December 23, 2008
Accepted May 18, 2009
Abstract
Long-term hypertension in arteries leads to remodelling of the arterial wall. We focused on morphological changes in the wall of the subrenal aorta in rats suffering from arterial hypertension and chronic renal failure induced by 5/6 nephrectomy (NX). We quantified the area of the profile of the arterial lumen, the volume fraction of elastin and smooth muscle cells (SMC) in the tunica media, the thickness of the intima-media, the length density of elastin lamellae, the lamellar unit thickness and the lamellar number. Calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) was assayed in extracts of aortic tissue and in plasma. Ten days after the subtotal nephrectomy, the structure of the aorta of NX rats did not differ compared to control animals. Pronounced structural changes were observed ten weeks after 5/6 nephrectomy. The area of the lumen profile, the elastin volume fraction and the elastin lamellar number in the tunica media were all significantly higher (p < 0.001) in NX than in control animals. The SMC volume fraction in the tunica media and the lamellar unit thickness were lower (p < 0.001) in NX than in control animals. The CGRP concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the aortas and in plasma of NX rats both ten days and ten weeks after operation when compared to sham operated animals. Our study demonstrated intensive remodelling of the aorta over the course of 10 weeks following induction of chronic renal failure. This was associated with a long-term increase in calcitonin gene related pep tide concentrations in the plasma and aorta.
Keywords: Histology, stereology, chronic renal failure, nephrectomy, quantitative microscopy
Address for correspondence:
Petra Kochová, Ph.D.Department of Mechanics, Faculty of Applied Sciences
University of West Bohemia
Univerzitní 22, 306 14 Pilsen, Czech Republic
Phone: +420 37763 2364
Fax: +420 377 632 302
E-mail: kochovap@kme.zcu.cz