Abstract
It is well known that superoxide production from aorta increases with progress of hypertension. However, amounts of superoxide production may differ from organ to organ with progress of hypertension. In this study, superoxide released from isolated organs of short-term hypertensive rats was measured by lucigenin-derived chemiluminescence (LDCL). Spontaneously hypertensive rats were used as a hypertensive model. These rats were fed with high salt (8% NaCl) diet for 6 weeks from the age of 8 weeks. Aorta, kidney, heart and liver were isolated from each rat. LDCL of superoxide released from these tissues was measured using a luminometer. Systolic blood pressure remarkably increased after 6 weeks (161 ± 13 (0 weeks); 275 ± 9 (6 weeks) mmHg, p < 0.05). In aorta, superoxide production increased significantly (316 ± 95 (0 weeks); 630 ± 107 (6 weeks) counts/min/mg of dry tissue, p < 0.05). Superoxide production from kidney also increased (881 ± 249 (0 weeks); 1192 ± 250 (6 weeks) counts/min/mg). However, in heart and liver, superoxide production did not change (heart: 466 ± 132 (0 weeks), 441 ± 133 (6 weeks); liver: 1689 ± 328 (0 weeks), 1672 ± 395 (6 weeks) counts/min/mg). In conclusion, it is suggested production and scavenging systems of superoxide in aorta and kidney are influenced even after short-term hypertension while those in heart and liver are not. [Jpn J Physiol 54 Suppl:S99 (2004)]
