Project description:The goals of this study is to compare the differently expressed genes in abdominal aorta tissue of WKY and SHR as well as differently expressed genes in the abdominal aorta tissue of SHR with or without neferine treatment. The rat (n=15) were randomly divided into 3 groups: WKY,SHR, and SHR + neferine - H (high concentration) groups (n=6 for each group). Rat in WKY and SHR groups were intragastrically with double distilled water (dd H2O); while rat in SHR + SHR + neferine - H groups were intragastrically with 10mg/kg/D of neferine for 10 weeks. Then the abdominal aorta were used to identify differentially expressed genes among different groups.
Project description:Spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR; Rat Genome Database (RGD) ID: 631848) is probably the most commonly used rodent model for essential hypertension. Its minimal congenic subline PD5 ( SHR.PD-(D8Rat42-D8Arb23)/Cub; (RGD ID: 1641851)) which differs by a short segment of chromosome 8 (encompassing only 7 genes) displays lower levels of blood pressure and amelioration of cardiac fibrosis compared to SHR. We used microarray aproach to unravel gene expression differences between SHR and PD5 responsible for the different phenotypes in our rat strains.
Project description:The goals of this study is to compare the differently expressed genes in renal tissue of C57BL/6 WT mice with or without Angiotensin II (AngII) treatment as well as differently expressed genes in the renal tissue of WT mice with AngII treatment with or without Quercetin (Que) treatment. The mice (n=18) were randomly divided into 3 groups: control, AngII,AngII+ Que (n=6 for each group). Mice in Control and AngII groups were infused with saline or 500 ng/kg/min of AngII respectively, and intragastrically with double distilled water (dd H2O); while mice in AngII + Que groups were infused with AngII (500 ng/kg/min) and intragastrically with 5mg/kg/D of Que for 4 weeks. Then the renal tissue were used to identify differentially expressed genes among different groups.
Project description:Recently, red beetroot has attracted attention as a health promoting functional food. Studies showed that beetroot administration can reduce blood pressure and ameliorate parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism, however, mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects of beetroot are not fully understood. In the current study, we analyzed effects of beetroot on parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism in two models of metabolic syndrome, (i) transgenic spontaneously hypertensive rats expressing human C-reactive protein (SHR-CRP rats), and (ii) hereditary hypertriglyceridemic (HHTg) rats. Treatment with beetroot juice for 4 weeks was in both models associated with amelioration of oxidative stress, reduced circulating lipids, smaller visceral fat depots, and lower ectopic fat accumulation in the liver, compared to their respective untreated controls. On the other hand, beetroot treatment had no significant effects on sensitivity of muscle and adipose tissue to insulin action in both models. Analyses of hepatic proteome revealed significantly deregulated proteins involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism, mTOR signalling, inflammation, and cytoskeleton rearrangement.
Project description:The microbiome plays a significant role in gut brain communication and is linked to several animal and human diseases. Hypertension is characterized by gut dysbiosis, and this study aimed to determine how the gut microbiome differed between male and female normotensive and hypertensive rodents. WKY is a genetic control for spontaneous hypertensive rats or SHR which is well documented to have elevated blood pressure at approximately 8 to 10 weeks. We compared the microbiome of normotensive and hypertensive rodents using a meta-genomics approach.