Tuyển tập các báo cáo nghiên cứu khoa học ngành y học tạp chí Medical Sciences dành cho các bạn sinh viên ngành y tham khảo đề tài: Effects of Losartan on expression of connexins at the early stage of atherosclerosis in rabbits. | Int. J. Med. Sci. 2010 7 82 International Journal of Medical Sciences 2010 7 2 82-89 Ivyspring International Publisher. All rights reserved Research Paper Effects of Losartan on expression of connexins at the early stage of atherosclerosis in rabbits Li-ming Ruan Wei CaiH Jun-zhu Chen Jin-feng Duan The First Affiliated Hospital College of Medicine Zhejiang University Hangzhou Zhejiang 310003 China H Corresponding author Wei Cai The First Affiliated Hospital College of Medicine Zhejiang University 79 Qingchun Road Hangzhou Zhejiang 310003 China. Tel 8613606508046 Fax 8657185286912 Email docl998@ Received Accepted Published Abstract Aim to investigate effects of Losartan on expression of connexin 40 and 43 Cx40 and Cx43 in arteries at the early stage of atherosclerosis in a rabbit model. Methods A total of 28 male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into following groups control group high fat diet group and Losartan group 10 mg kg day . Losartan was administrated in food for two weeks. Iliac arteries were obtained for immunohistochemistry transmission electron microscopy Western blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction RT-PCR . Results Transmission electron microscopy revealed abundant gap junctions between neointimal smooth muscle cells SMCs which were markedly reduced by treatment. RT-PCR and Western blot assay showed that the mRNA and protein expression of Cx40 and Cx43 were elevated in the neointimal area at the early stage of atherosclerosis. The mRNA and protein expression of Cx43 were significantly down-regulated by losartan treatment but those of Cx40 were not markedly changed. Conclusion Cx40 and Cx43 in the neointimal SMCs were up-regulated at the early stage of atherosclerosis. Losartan an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor could reduce neointima proliferation and down-regulate the elevated protein expression of Cx43 suggesting the rennin-angiotensin system RAS plays an important role in the
