Adenine-induced CKD in male rats caused a progressive loss of basal nitric oxide levels and increased arterial stiffness at 2 and 4 weeks, prior to the presence of media calcifications.
In a rat model of CKD, arterial media calcification-related vascular alterations and loss of nitric oxide bioavailability develop early, prior to overt calcifications.
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, especially in those undergoing dialysis and kidney transplant surgery. CKD patients are at high risk of developing arterial media calcifications (AMC) and arterial stiffness. We hypothesized that investigation of disease progression at an early stage could provide novel insights in understanding AMC etiology. METHODS: An adenine diet was administered to male Wistar rats to induce AMC. Rats were sacrificed after 2, 4 and 8 weeks. AMC was measured by assessment of aortic calcium and visualized using histology. Arterial stiffness was measured in vivo by ultrasound and ex vivo by applying cyclic stretch of physiological magnitude on isolated arterial segments, allowing us to generate the corresponding pressure-diameter loops. Further, ex vivo arterial reactivity was assessed in organ baths at 2 and 4 weeks to investigate early alterations in biomechanics/cellular functionality. RESULTS: CKD rats showed a time-dependent increase in aortic calcium which was confirmed on histology. Accordingly, ex vivo arterial stiffness progressively worsened. Pressure-diameter loops showed a gradual loss of arterial compliance in CKD rats. Additionally, viscoelastic properties of isolated arterial segments were altered in CKD rats. Furthermore, after 2 and 4 weeks of adenine treatment, a progressive loss in basal, nitric oxide (NO) levels was observed, which was linked to an increased vessel tonus and translates into an increasing viscous modulus. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations indicate that AMC-related vascular alterations develop early after CKD induction prior to media calcifications being present. Preventive action, related to restoration of NO bioavailability, might combat AMC development.
Bergh et al. (Mon,) conducted a other in Chronic kidney disease with arterial media calcifications. Adenine diet was evaluated on Aortic calcium, arterial stiffness, and arterial reactivity. Adenine-induced CKD in male rats caused a progressive loss of basal nitric oxide levels and increased arterial stiffness at 2 and 4 weeks, prior to the presence of media calcifications.
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