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Quantitative examination of the cardiac myocytes in hypertensive rats under chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis

  • Original Paper
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Journal of Biomedical Science

Abstract

This study quantitatively examined myocardial changes during the hypertensive process. Four groups (n=10 for each group) of adultRattus norvegicus (Wistar strain) were studied. Animals were sacrificed at 40 and 80 days of experimentation (control and experimental groups in each age). Although animals in the experimental groups received L-NAME (50 mg/kg/day) for 40 days, one group of animals was without L-NAME for the remaining 40 days. In addition, stereology was performed to determine the volume and numerical densities of myocytes (Vv and Nv, respectively), the mean volume and the total number of myocytes (Vol and N, respectively). According to those results, the blood pressure increased following L-NAME administration and remained high even at 40 days after administering L-NAME. The cardiac weight significantly increased in L-NAME animals and also in control of older animals. Moreover, Vv and the Vol increased in older animals. Notably, inhibition of the NO synthase increased Vol while decreasing Nv and N. These indices remained unchanged even after 40 days of the L-NAME intake interruption. Nv and N also decreased in older animals. Furthermore, hypertrophy and loss of myocytes were not entirely reversible after cessation of the chronic inhibition of the NO synthase in an extended follow-up.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedical Center, Institute of Biology, Laboratory of Morphometry and Cardiovascular Morphology, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Leila M. Meirelles Pereira & Carlos A. Mandarim-de-Lacerda

  2. Lab. de Morfometria e Morfologia Cardiovascular, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Av. 28 de Setembro, 87 (fundos), 20551 030, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil

    Leila M. Meirelles Pereira

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Pereira, L.M.M., Mandarim-de-Lacerda, C.A. Quantitative examination of the cardiac myocytes in hypertensive rats under chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis. J Biomed Sci 5, 363–369 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02253446

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02253446

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