The Effect of ERK Signal Pathway on the Development of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Objective To observe dynamically expression of p-MEK1/2 in the left ventricle of spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR) and to futher explore the role of MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway in hypertensive left ventricular remodeling.Methods The expression of p-MEK1/2 in the left ventricle were detected by immunohistochemistry.the blood pressure、heart/body weight in Wistar Kyoto(WKY)and SHR were observed.Results During the experiment blood pressure of WKY remained at normal level,and systolic blood pressure respectively in SHR16、SHR24 groups were significantly higher than those in the same week old WKY group(P0.05);compared with the same week old WKY group,the heart/body weight ratio in SHR24 groups increased significantly(P0.05);the left ventricular relative wall thickness of SHR24 was significantly higher than those of SHR8,SHR16and WKY24(P0.05);the expression of p-MEK1/2 protein in left ventricle increased with the the week-old growth,and the expression of SHR16、SHR24 groups were higher than those of same week old WKY groups respectively(P0.05).Conclusion MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway may promote the development of the left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy in hypertensive rats.