ABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the expression of transient receptor potential channel-1—large conductance Ca2+-activated K+channel (TRPC1-BK) signal complex in aortic smooth muscle tissue in experimental mice of atherosclerosis (AS). Methods: Our research included in 2 groups: Control group, wild C57BL/6J mice were fed by normal diet and AS group, ApoE-/- mice were fed by high fat diet to establish AS model. All animals were treated for 10 weeks, n=10 in each group. The total RNA and protein were extracted from aortic smooth muscle tissue in sacrificed mice. The mRNA and protein expressions of TRPC1, BKα and BKβ1 subunit were measured by RT-PCR, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry staining. Results: By RT-PCR examination, compared with Control group, AS group showed increased mRNA expression of TRPC1, P<0.05 and decreased mRNA expressions of BKα and BKβ1 subunit, both P<0.01. By Western blot analysis, compared with Control group, AS group had elevated protein expression of TRPC1, P<0.05 and reduced protein expressions of BKα and BKβ1 subunit, both P<0.01; by immunohistochemistry staining, AS group had the higher protein expression of TRPC1, P<0.01 and the lower protein expressions of BKα and BKβ1 subunit, both P<0.05. Conclusion: The mRNA and protein expressions of TRPC1-BK signal complex were affected in aortic smooth muscle tissue in AS mice, which speculated that TRPC1-BK signal complex might be become a new target for treating the relevant vascular disease.