(The FASEB Journal. 2007;21:968.2)
© 2007 FASEB
Decreased mRNA expression of ASIC2a in nodose sensory ganglia is associated with development of hypertension in SHR
Yongjun Lu1,
Carol A Whiteis1,
Mark W Chapleau1,2 and
Francois M Abboud1
1 Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242,
2 Veteran Affair Mededical Center, 601 Highway 6 West, Iowa City, IA, 52246
ABSTRACT
We recently demonstrated Acid-Sensing Ion Channel 2 (ASIC 2), a putative mechanosensitive ion channel subunit, expressed in somata in nodose sensory ganglia (NG) and terminals of the aortic depressor nerve in aortic arch (FASEB J, 20:A775, 2006[Free Full Text]). In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that ASIC2a expression in NG is decreased in association with development of hypertension (HT) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Total RNA was obtained from both NG of SHR and normotensive WKY rats at 1, 3 and 16 months of age (n = 5–6 male rats at each age). HT develops between 1 and 3 months of age in SHR, ASIC2a mRNA expression measured by qPCR was stable in NG of WKY rats from 1 to 16 months (m) of age (Table). ASIC2a expression was increased in SHR vs. WKY NG at 1 month of age (pre-HT), but was markedly reduced in SHR NG at 3 and 16 months of age when SHR are HT (* p < 0.01). We conclude that ASIC2a expression in NG is markedly decreased in SHR in association with development of HT. The decreased expression cannot be attributed to nonspecific genetic differences in SHR vs. WKY since ASIC2a expression was increased in young pre-HT SHR-NG. We speculate that the reduction of ASIC2a expression may contribute to decreased baroreceptor sensitivity and HT in SHR (HL14388).
