Standardization of a new non-invasive device for assessment of arterial stiffness in rats: Correlation with age-related arteries’ structure

Differential effects of dexamethasone on arterial stiffness, myocardial remodeling and blood pressure between normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats

“…Assessments of PWV were performed at the beginning and on the 12th day of the experimental protocol, following the procedures already published (Fabricio et al, 2020). In summary, the 2 pOpet® probes (Axelife SAS, Saint Nicolas de Redon, France) were positioned on the right forelimb and hindlimb of the anesthetized rats.…”

Identification of Aortic Proteins Involved in Arterial Stiffness in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats Treated With Perindopril:A Proteomic Approach

“…This study confirmed the participation of RAS in hypertension, as shown elsewhere ( Marque et al, 2002 ; Safar, 2010 ; Hong et al, 2013 ; Natalin et al, 2016 ; Mancini et al, 2017 ; Steppan et al, 2020 ), since 8 weeks of perindopril treatment significantly reduced BP (−11%), as shown by the time course of SBP. We did not measure PWV at the beginning of the treatment, but since we have shown that PWV positively correlates with BP in SHR ( Fabricio et al, 2020 ), we may assume that PWV was also high at the beginning of the protocol. Because RAS has also been implicated in vessel remodeling and aortic stiffening, ACE inhibitors play a crucial role in the restoration of the balance between plasma (and tissue) angiotensin II and bradykinin levels ( Ferrari et al, 2005 ), which improves arteriolar structure, independent of their ability to reduce BP ( Mancini et al, 2017 ).…”

“…After 60 days of pharmacological treatment, the assessment of PWV was performed as previously published ( Fabricio et al, 2020 ). In summary, each rat was anesthetized with xylazine hydrochloride (Anasedan ® , 10 mg/kg) and ketamine hydrochloride (Dopalen ® , 50 mg/kg), and two pOpet ® probes (Axelife SAS, Saint Nicolas de Redon, France) were positioned on the right forelimb (close to elbow) and hindlimb (close to knee).…”

“…The possibility of having an experimental model with the measurement of both blood pressure (BP) and PWV, simultaneously with direct access to the arteries for gene, protein, histological studies, and other assays, represents an important advancement for better understanding the mechanisms involved in arterial stiffness changes. In this regard, our group recently standardized a new non-invasive device for assessment of arterial stiffness in rats ( Fabricio et al, 2020 ) and showed that it is able to detect changes in arterial stiffness that are conditioned by age- and pressure-related arterial remodeling.…”

“…Aortic stiffening is associated with either a remodeling or disorganization of the vascular wall, which derives from an increased collagenous material, fibrotic components, the presence of elastin fiber fracture, arterial elasticity, or vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hypertrophy ( Morgan et al, 2014 ; Lindesay et al, 2016 , 2018 ; Fabricio et al, 2020 ; Steppan et al, 2020 ). Among several causes of aortic stiffness, the central role of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is well known, and therefore, some studies have shown the effects of RAS inhibition on arterial stiffness ( Marque et al, 2002 ; Gonzalez et al, 2018 ) and, consequently, on BP, but the exact molecular mechanisms induced by RAS on aortic stiffness are not completely understood.…”