ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The present study was aimed at exploring whether the pathogenesis of hypertension is related with an altered expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isozymes, i.e., bNOS, iNOS and ecNOS. METHOD: By Western blot analysis, the expression of NOS isozymes were determined in the kidney isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive control, Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The NOx (nitrite/nitrate) contents were also determined in the kidney and plasma. RESULTS: The plasma NOx was significantly increased in SHR compared with that in WKY. The basal level of NOx was higher in the medulla and cortex of the kidney in SHR compared with that in WKY rat. bNOS proteins were expressed higher in the outer medulla and cortex, and iNOS proteins were higher in the inner medulla, outer medulla and cortex in SHR. ecNOS expression did not significantly differ between the SHR and WKY. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the NO generation may not be impaired, but rather increased. It is likely that the increased expression of NOS isozymes is a counter-reactive phenomenon secondary to the increased blood pressure in this model of hypertension.