[Postgenomic and structural changes in the myocardia of Wistar rats fed a high-salt diet].

The relationship between dietary sodium, hypertension, and cardiovascular injury is far from clear. One of the important links in this process can be microRNAs that have the ability to modulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. However, their role in this process has not been fully studied. In addition, further studies require the identification of structural changes in the myocardium in conditions of long-term consumption of a high-salt diet. The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression levels of nuclear transcription factor κB (NFκB), microRNA (miRNA)-21 and structural changes in the myocardium during long-term consumption of a diet containing 8% (high) sodium chloride in Wistar rats. Material and methods. 20 Wistar rats with initial body weight 280.5±42.7 g were divided into two equal groups. The high salt (HS) group received 8% NaCl in the diet, the control (NS) group received the standard diet (0.34% NaCl). After 4 months, systolic blood pressure was measured in rats using the cuff method on the tail; the myocardial mass index was assessed after dissection; histological and electron microscopic examination of the myocardium was performed, and the expression levels of miRNA-21 and NFκB in the myocardium were determined. Results and discussion. Consumption of a diet high in sodium chloride for 4 months did not significantly affect the level of systolic blood pressure in normotensive Wistar rats, but led to an increase in myocardial mass index by 25.0% (p<0.05). In the HS group, hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes and an increase in the wall thickness of arterial vessels were revealed. The area of perivascular fibrosis in rats of the HS-group was almost 1.8 fold higher than in the NS-group. In animals of HS-group, the relative levels of expression of NFκB (more than 2 times) and miRNA-21 (almost 6 times) increased compared with the control. It can be assumed that the negative impact on the cardiovascular system of high-salt diets is partially realized through NFκB-associated signaling pathways and miRNA-21 activation. Conclusion. In Wistar rats, long-term use of a high-salt diet results in myocardial remodeling that is not associated with changes in blood pressure. At the same time, the adverse effects of high salt intake on the myocardium are mediated, in particular, by postgenomic mechanisms, namely an increase in the expression levels of NFκB and microRNA-21.

[Urinary miRNA expression in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) fed high salt rations].

High food intake of sodium chloride is associated with damage not only the cardiovascular system, but also the kidneys. The mechanisms of the potential negative effects of high-salt diets on the kidneys have not been established. The aim of the study was to trace the changes in relative expression of miRNA-21, 203 and 133 in urine of cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) fed high-salt diet with and without isolated soy proteins. Material and methods. The object of the study was 18 male cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) aged 6-8 years with a body weight of 5.1-9.7 kg. The animals were divided in 3 groups (6 individuals each). The animals of the first (control) group received a standard diet (2 g NaCl/kg feed). The animals of the second group were fed high-salt diet (8 g NaCl/kg feed), of the third - high-salt diet combined with SUPRO 760 isolated soy protein (200 g/kg feed; instead of milk and egg proteins, corn gluten). Access to water was free. The follow-up period in this study was 4 months. In animals blood pressure (BP) and relative level of microRNA (miRNA) expression in urine were measured. Results and discussion. Keeping monkeys on the studied diets for 4 months did not lead to significant changes in systolic or diastolic BP compared with the initial level. In the control group, there were no distinct changes in the expression of miRNA-21 in urine during observation. In the other two groups, there was a significant increase (approximately equally) of this parameter in comparison with the initial values. Both high-salt diets resulted in a significant increase in the relative level of expression of miRNA-133 and miRNA-203 in urine compared to basal values. However, the increase in these parameters in the group of animals fed a high-salt diet in combination with soy isolate was significantly less than in monkeys fed only a high-salt diet. Conclusion. Possible, potentially negative effects of high-salt diets on kidney may be mediated by epigenomic mechanisms and partially modulated by the inclusion of isolated soy proteins in the diet.

[Aging and kidneys: problems in evaluating of the glomerular filtration rate in elderly.]

Aging causes significant changes in the kidneys. One of the most important manifestations of an aging kidney is a reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Unfortunately, there is no generally accepted, adequate method for evaluating GFR in the elderly. The perspectivies of the relatively new approaches (BIS1, BIS2, FAS) are not clear and doubtful. The feasibility of standardization of GFR values by body surface area among of the older persons has not been determined. Possible that the diagnosis setting «chronic kidney disease¼ in elderly solely on the base of GFR decline may be an inadequate approach and promote a kind of «nephrological ageism¼.

Serum uromodulin as an early biomarker of tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis in patients with glomerulopathies.

AIM: To assess the significance of the serum uromodulin (Tamm-Horsfall protein - THP) concentration (Sumo) as an early biomarker of tubular atrophy (TA) and interstitial renal fibrosis (IF) in patients with glomerulopathies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 84 patients with glomerulopathy and 11 practically healthy persons (control) were examined. Uromodulin concentrations in serum and urine (Uumo) were measured, renal excretion of this protein and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were established. A semi-quantitative assessment of nephrobioptates was performed. RESULTS: Sumo decreases with a minimum expression of tubular atrophy (TA) or interstitial fibrosis (IF), when the values of eGFR still remain normal. Variations of such excretory parameters of THP as Uumo, daily excretion, and ratio: urinary uromodulin / urinary creatinine, did not manifest a similar trend. CONCLUSION: Sumo is promising as an early biomarker of fibrotic and atrophic renal damage. The parameters of renal excretion of THP do not seem to have this property. The reason for the delay in the decline of Uumo in the progression of CKD as compared to the decrease in Sumo seems to be the need to maintain a sufficient Uumo to counteract urinary tract infection and stone formation.

Effect of spironolactone on hypertrophy of left ventricular myocardium in wistar rats with experimental uremia.

Chronic renal failure was modeled in rats by partial nephrectomy. Blood pressure, heart rate, concentrations of aldosterone, urea, creatinine, electrolytes, and protein, index of hypertrophy of visceral organs, and 24-h diuresis were evaluated. In rats treated with spironolactone, the index of myocardial hypertrophy did not considerably differ from that in sham-operated animals, whereas in untreated rats the test parameters considerably differ from the control. We concluded that the blockade of aldosterone receptors with spironolactone produced a cardioprotective effect in Wistar rats with subtotal nephrectomy.

[Influence of prostatilen on smooth muscle organs functional activity in surgical patients (clinical and experimental study)]. / Vliianie prostatilena na funktsional'nuiu aktivnost' gladkomyshechnykh organov u khirurgicheskikh bol'nykh (kliniko-éksperimental'noe issledovanie).

The action of prostatilen on contractile activity of smooth muscles of isolated line slices of urine bladder of Wistar rats (myography) and arterial vessels of cat kidneys (resistography) was studied. On the basis of clinical cases effectiveness of prostatilen was analysed as a treatment restorting urine bladder function in acute reflex urinary retention after operations in the area of rectal sphincter, as well as in treatment of patients with chronic prostatitis. It is shown, that prostatilen produces contractile action on smooth muscles of renal blood vessels in cats and urine bladder walls in rats and it raises contractile activity of smooth muscles of human urine bladder. The results of experimental and clinical investigations make it possible to recommend the application of this bioregulating preparation for treatment and prophylaxis of disturbances in urination.

[The effect of prostatilen on the contractile activity of the smooth-muscle cells of the blood vessels and bladder in cats]. / Vliianie prostatilena na sokratitel'nuiu aktivnost' gladkomyshechnykh kletok krovenosnykh sosudov i mochevogo puzyria koshek.

Prostatilene enhanced the functional activity of the bladder and blood vessels' smooth muscle cells. A possibility of activation of the smooth muscle cells contractility with prostatilene by a pharmaco-mechanical association, is discussed.

[The effect of prostatic peptides on the contractile activity of smooth-muscle cells from the bladder]. / Vliianie peptidov predstatel'noi zhelezy na sokratitel'nuiu aktivnost' gladkomyshechnykh kletok mochevogo puzyria.

Prostatilene (PST) enhanced the functional activity of the bladder smooth-muscle cells (SMC). The possibility of activation of the SMC contractility by the PST through pharmacomechanical associations, is discussed.