Increased blood pressure in nesfatin/nuclebindin-2-transgenic mice

Hypertens Res. 2017 Oct 5;40(10):861-867. doi: 10.1038/hr.2017.61. Epub 2017 Apr 27.

Abstract

Nesfatin/nucleobindin-2 (nesf/NUCB2), a precursor of the anorexigenic protein nesfatin-1, is selectively expressed in the hypothalamic nuclei, which are central to the regulation of the autonomic nervous system. The present study sought to investigate the involvement of nesf/NUCB2 in the regulation of blood pressure and ingestive behavior, by using nesf/NUCB2-transgenic (Tg) mice. Blood pressure and heart rates were measured under conscious and unconscious conditions. Twenty-four-hour water intake and urine volume of male nesf/NUCB2-Tg mice and their littermates in metabolic cages were measured. After killing, kidney weight was measured and the mRNA expression of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC)-α and ENaC-γ was measured in the hypothalamus and kidney with real-time PCR. Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure were significantly higher in nesf/NUCB2-Tg mice, but pulse rate was not affected in conscious mice. In contrast, isoflurane anesthesia prevented an increase in blood pressure in the nesf/NUCB2-Tg mice. Twenty-four-hour water intake and urine volume were significantly higher in the nesf/NUCB2-Tg mice than in their non-Tg littermates. Urine sodium concentration was significantly lower in the nesf/NUCB2-Tg mice, although the serum sodium concentration and urine sodium excretion were not different between the genotypes. Kidney weight was significantly higher in the nesf/NUCB2-Tg mice than their non-Tg littermates, although there were no clear differences in the kidney histological findings between genotypes. The mRNA expression of ENaC-γ, but not ENaC-α, was decreased in the hypothalami of nesf/NUCB2-Tg mice. Our data suggested that Nesf/NUCB2 is involved in the regulation of blood pressure in the brain.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Pressure / genetics*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Drinking / genetics
  • Eating / genetics
  • Epithelial Sodium Channels / genetics*
  • Epithelial Sodium Channels / metabolism
  • Hypothalamus / metabolism
  • Kidney / anatomy & histology
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Nucleobindins
  • Organ Size / genetics

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Epithelial Sodium Channels
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nucb1 protein, mouse
  • Nucleobindins