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Acta Physiologica 2012; Volume 206, Supplement 693
Joint FEPS and Spanish Physiological Society Scientific Congress 2012
9/8/2012-9/11/2012
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
EFFECT OF ANTIOXIDANT QUERCETIN ON CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION IN YOUNG RATS WITH DEVELOPING SPONTANEOUS HYPERTENSION
Abstract number: P87
Tabacekova1 M, Torok1 J, Zemancikova1 A, Parohova2 J, Vrankova2 S
1Laboratory of Vascular Disorders Etiopathogenesis, Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences,
2Laboratory of Neuro-cardiovascular Interactions, Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences
Objectives:
Although the oxidative stress has been put in connection with the pathological elevation of blood pressure, its causative role in various hypertensive states remains to be elucidated. The goal of our study was to investigate the effect of antioxidant treatment with plant-derived flavonoid quercetin on blood pressure increase and on concomitant cardiovascular abnormalities during early stages of spontaneous hypertension development in the rat.
Materials:
From 4th and from 8th week of age, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were treated with quercetin (20 mg/kg/day) for the period of four weeks. Blood pressure (BP) was measured by the indirect tail-cuff method. At the end of the treatment rats were sacrificed, their heart weight to body weight ratios were determined and rings of conduit arteries were prepared for isometric tension recording. Concentration of conjugated dienes in selected tissues was measured.
Results:
Quercetin administration did not affect BP elevation in SHR between 4th and 8th week, but it significantly decreased BP increment when it was applied between 8th and 12th week of age. However, relative heart weight was lowered due to quercetin treatment in both age groups. In isolated thoracic aorta, as well as in superior mesenteric artery, sensitivity to noradrenaline was decreased, while acetylcholine-induced relaxation in aorta was not affected by quercetin. Concentration of conjugated dienes in left heart ventricle was significantly reduced only in 12-week-old quercetin-treated SHR.
Conclusions:
We observed that long-term treatment of juvenile SHR with quercetin did not prevent the initial blood pressure increase, but in SHR, in which hypertension was already developing, it partially reduced further BP elevation. Our results suggest that the higher production of reactive oxygen species may not play an important role in initiation of hypertension in SHR but it may contribute to its further progression in later ontogenesis.
Supported by grants VEGA No. 2/0193/11 and No. 2/0188/12.
To cite this abstract, please use the following information:
Acta Physiologica 2012; Volume 206, Supplement 693 :P87