Rapid development of severe end-organ damage in C57BL/6 mice by combining DOCA salt and angiotensin II

Kidney Int. 2008 Mar;73(5):643-50. doi: 10.1038/sj.ki.5002689. Epub 2007 Nov 21.

Abstract

The C57BL/6 mouse strain serves as the genetic background of many transgenic and gene knockout models; however, this strain appears to be resistant to hypertension-induced renal injury. We developed a new model of hypertensive end-organ damage in C57BL/6 mice by combining deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) and salt with angiotensin II infusion. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly elevated in DOCA salt-angiotensin II mice compared to control mice or mice treated individually with DOCA salt or angiotensin II. Hypertensive glomerular damage, increased expression of profibrotic and inflammatory genes, albuminuria, tubular casts, increased plasma cholesterol, cardiac hypertrophy, and fibrosis were found in mice treated with DOCA salt-angiotensin II. The SBP in the angiotensin II-infused group was further increased by increasing the infusion rate; only mild injury was observed in these mice, suggesting that blood pressure was not a causal factor. Removal of DOCA and the angiotensin pump lowered blood pressure to normal; however, albuminuria along with the glomerular and cardiac damage did not completely resolve. Our study describes a new model of hypertensive end-organ damage and repair in C57BL/6 mice.

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin II / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Blood Pressure
  • Body Weight
  • Desoxycorticosterone / toxicity
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Hypertension / chemically induced
  • Hypertension / complications*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / etiology*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / pathology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / physiopathology
  • Kidney Glomerulus / physiopathology
  • Kidney Glomerulus / ultrastructure
  • Male
  • Mice*
  • Mineralocorticoids / toxicity
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Proteinuria / etiology
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / toxicity

Substances

  • Mineralocorticoids
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents
  • Angiotensin II
  • Desoxycorticosterone