Altered endothelin receptor expression and affinity in spontaneously hypertensive rat cerebral and coronary arteries

Hypertension is associated with arterial hyperreactivity, and endothelin (ET) receptors are involved in vascular pathogenesis. The present study was performed to examine the hypothesis that ET receptors were altered in cerebral and coronary arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methodology/principal findings: Cerebral and coronary arteries were removed from SHR. Vascular contraction was recorded using a sensitive myograph system. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to quantify mRNA and protein expression of receptors and essential MAPK pathway molecules. The

In SHR cerebral arteries, ETA receptor expression was upregulated. ETA receptor affinity was increased in coronary arteries, and ETB receptor affinity was increased in cerebral arteries. The ERK1/2 activation may be involved in the receptor alterations.