ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the regulation of sodium pump ?-subunit gene expression in the cortex of kidneys from one kidney one clip (1k1c) hypertensive rats. METHODS: 1k1c hypertensive rats were prepared by partially ligating the left renal artery and removing the right kidney. 4 weeks later, all the rats were killed, the levels of sodium pump ? 1-, ? 2-, and ? 3-subunit mRNA and protein in the cortex of kidney were detected with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method and immunohistochemical assay, respectively. RESULTS: The mRNA levels of sodium pump ? 1-subunit increased and ? 2- and ? 3-subunit were unchanged in the cortex of kidneys from 1k1c hypertensive rats compared with control rats, while no change has been found for all the three subunits gene expressions at protein level. CONCLUSION: There were some changes in the expression of sodium pump ?-subunit gene in the cortex of kidney of the 1k1c hypertensive rat, which might be related to the development of hypertension in this hypertensive model.