Endogenous production of ghrelin and beneficial effects of its exogenous administration in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2004

Autores

Henriques-Coelho, T (Autor) FMUP; Correia-Pinto, J (Autor) Outra; Roncon-Albuquerque R, Jr. (Autor) Outra; Baptista, MJ (Autor) Outra; Lourenço, AP (Autor) FMUP; Oliveira, SM (Autor) Outra; Brandão-Nogueira, A (Autor) Outra; Teles, A (Autor) Outra; Fortunato, JM (Autor) Outra; Leite-Moreira, AF (Autor) FMUP

Revista

Título: American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology

Vol. 287 Nº 6

Páginas: H2885-H2890

ISSN: 0363-6135

Editora: American Physiological Society

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 55 Citações

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 63 Citações

Pubmed / Medline

Classificação Científica

FOS: Ciências médicas e da saúde

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-000-7CJ

DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.01122.2003

Abstract (EN): We investigated the endogenous production of ghrelin as well as cardiac and pulmonary vascular effects of its administration in a rat model of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH). Adult Wistar rats randomly received a subcutaneous injection of MCT (60 mg/kg) or an equal volume of vehicle. One week later, animals were randomly assigned to receive a subcutaneous injection of ghrelin (100 mug/kg bid for 2 wk) or saline. Four groups were analyzed: normal rats treated with ghrelin (n = 7), normal rats injected with saline (n = 7), MCT rats treated with ghrelin (n = 9), and MCT rats injected with saline (n = 9). At 22-25 days, right ( RV) and left ventricular (LV) pressures were measured, heart and lungs were weighted, and samples were collected for histological and molecular analysis. Endogenous production of ghrelin was almost abolished in normal rats treated with ghrelin. In MCT-treated animals, pulmonary expression of ghrelin was preserved, and RV myocardial expression was increased more than 20 times. In these animals, exogenous administration of ghrelin attenuated PH, RV hypertrophy, wall thickening of peripheral pulmonary arteries, and RV diastolic disturbances and ameliorated LV dysfunction, without affecting its endogenous production. In conclusion, decreased tissular expression of ghrelin in healthy animals but not in PH animals suggests a negative feedback in the former that is lost in the latter. A selective increase of ghrelin mRNA levels in the RV of animals with PH might indicate distinct regulation of its cardiac expression. Finally, ghrelin administration attenuated MCT-induced PH, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and RV hypertrophy, indicating that it may modulate PH.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 6