Increased expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma in endothelial cells of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between hypertension and the expression level of PPAR-gamma in endothelial cells (ECs) of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods: PPAR-gamma protein expression in ECs of 4-week and 16-week SHR was detected by immunohistochemistral technique and analyzed by image acquiring and analysis system, and age matched Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were used as controls. The aortic ECs of different-aged rats were primarily cultured, and the protein and mRNA level of PPAR-gamma in cultured ECs (≤3 passages) were detected by Western blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: The blood pressure of 4-week SHR was slightly higher than those of 4-week WKY (P < 0. 05). The protein and mRNA levels of PPAR-gamma in 4-week SHR were also higher than that of 4-week WKY, but the differences had no statistical significance (P > 0. 05). Compared with the 16-week WKY, the blood pressure of 16-week SHR greatly increased (P <0. 01), and the protein and mRNA levels of PPAR-gamma in ECs from 16w SHR were approximately 1. 5 times higher than those of the age matched WKY (P <0. 01). The protein and mRNA levels of PPAR-gamma in ECs from 16-week SHR were 2. 5 times higher than those of 4-week SHR (P <0. 01), while in 16-week WKY it was only 1. 5 times higher than those of 4-week WKY (P < 0. 01). Conclusion: In accordance with the hypertension progress, the protein and mRNA levels of PPAR-gamma in SHR can significantly increase.