Effects of hepatocyte growth factor on blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Shoumei ZHANG; Bangning WANG; Danian CHEN; Zeping HU

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) is a kind of multifunctional growth factor,which can accelerate cell growth,transition and genesis in various organs.In cardiovascular system,HGF has reported to have anti-apoptotic,anti-fibrotic,as well as repair endothelial cell injury effects,suppose that HGF has relationships with hypertension.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the effect of HGF on blood pressure,vascular endothelial system and renin-angiotensin system(RAS) in spontaneously hypertensive rats,further more,to discuss the mechanisms between HGF and hypertension.DESIGN,TIME AND

SETTING:

The randomized control experiment on animal was performed at the Department of Cardiology,First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from March to July 2007.MATERIALSThe exogenous HGF power was purchased from America Peprotech Company.Rats with 14-weeks-old,weighting 200-250 g,were randomly divided into the experimental and spontaneous hypertension groups,WKY rats were serves as the control group,with 12 animals in each group.

METHODS:

Rats in the experimental group were administrated 5,10,15,20,and 25 ?g/kg HGF per 24 hours,the partes aequales sodium chloride was injected into the spontaneous hypertension and control groups.Five minutes after administration,systolic pressure and heart rates were measured.The rats were sacrificed and harvested 2 mL blood of right ventricle when blood pressure decrease the lowest,about 30 minutes after administration.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

The effect of HGF on systolic pressure and heart rates,and levels of serum nitrogen monoxidum(NO),plasma endothelin(ET),as well as angiotensinⅡ(Ag Ⅱ) were detected by colorimetry and radio-immunity methods.

RESULTS:

When injected 5?g/kg HGF,the blood pressure did not significantly change.After 10 ?g/kg HGF injection,the blood pressure began to decrease and reached a peak after 30 minutes,gradually recovered after 1 hour,and back to the normal after 5 hours.Injection of 20 ?g/kg has largest effect on rats,with reduced contractive pressure 40-50mmHg,but no significantly changes appeared by adding HGF dose.There were no significantly differences of heat rate and blood pressure between the two control groups.Compared with the spontaneous hypertension group,the levels of ET and AgⅡ were decreased,however,the level of NO was increased(P