Signal Transduction in Animal Models of Normotension and Hypertension

Experiments in inbred strains of normotensive and hypertensive rats have clearly demonstrated circadian rhythms in blood pressure and heart rate. Pre- and postsynaptic signal transduction processes in vitro can, but need not, vary with circadian time, greatly depending on the strain of rats investigated. These data highlight the notion of a strain-dependent, and thus genetic, regulation of the cardiovascular system. Obviously, circadian rhythms in blood pressure cannot be explained by single biochemical parameters, but results from both in vitro and in vivo studies give first evidence that the vascular nitric oxide-cGMP system may be involved in the circadian regulation of blood pressure in WKY and SHR rats. In secondary hypertensive TGR and in their normotensive controls, SPRD, the guanylyl cyclase system does not seem to play a role in circadian blood pressure regulation. In neither of the four strains studied did aortic adenylyl cyclase show any time-dependent variation. Because vascular tissue was taken from the thoracic aorta of the rats, a contribution of adenylyl cyclase to circadian blood pressure regulation in small resistance arteries cannot be ruled out. Further studies in different parts of the vascular tree are needed to definitely answer that question. No data are available on time-dependent variation in the activity of phospholipase C, the second messenger pathway of vascular alpha-adrenoceptors and angiotensin II AT1-receptors, both of which mediate vasoconstriction. Future research into this system will be helpful in identifying mechanisms involved in blood pressure regulation in SPRD and TGR.