Caspase recruitment domain expression during the formation of myocardial hypertrophy induced by hypertension in rats

Objective To explore the expression of apoptosis repressor with a caspase recruitment domain(ARC) protein in the development of myocardial hypertrophy in rats.Methods A total of 45 adult healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into operation group,sham operation group and control group(n = 15 for each group).Myocardial hypertrophy model was established by using abdominal aortic constriction handing method in operation group.Heart rate, weight ratio of left ventricle to body(LVW/BW),carotid artery mean arterial blood pressure,and histomorphology of myocardium were compared among three groups after 1,2,3,4 and 6 weeks.Expression of ARC and phosphorylated ARC were detected by Western blot and co-immunoprecipitation method.Results Blood pressure and LVW/BW in operation group were increased significantly compared with those in sham operation group after 4 weeks.Myocardial fiber thickening and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy were observed in operation group.The content of ARC in myocardium had no significant change during the formation of myocardial hypertrophy.Expression of phosphorylated ARC was decreased significantly after 4 and 6 weeks in operation group compared with sham group and control group(both P0.05 ).Conclusions Phosphorylated ARC expression decrease may be one of the important molecular mechanism of myocardial hypertrophy induced by hypertension in rats.