Changes Of Expression Of Stretch-activated Potassium Channel TREK-1 MRNA And Protein Induced By Chronic Pressure Overload In Rat Left Ventricle

Objective: To investigate the expression of stretch-activated potassium channel TREK-1 mRNA and protein of hypertrophic myocardium induced by coarctation of abdominal aorta.Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: Group A (CAA4w, n=10), Group B(CAA8W, n=10) and sham-operated group(Sham,n=10). Left and right ventricular mass index(LVMI, RVMI),cardiac morphological changes were investigated in different groups. The expression of TREK-1 mRNA was examined by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the expression of TREK-1 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot.Results: As compared to sham-operated group, left ventricles became hypertrophy at 2 weeks after coarctation of abdominal aorta, but it had no statistical significance; Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) increased significantly at 4 and 8 weeks after abdominal aorta constriction (P<0.05), and hypertrophic cardiomyocytes were seen under optical microscope; stretch- activated potassium channel TREK-1 mRNA was strongly expressed and protein was up-regulated in CAA4W,CAA8W group (P<0.05).Conclusions: Expression of TREK-1 is up-regulated during the progression of left ventricular hypertrophy induced by chronic pressure overload in Wistar rats.