Changes Of Blood Pressure And Expression Of NADPH Oxidase In Carotid Body In Rats Exposed To Intermittent Hypoxia

ObjectiveObstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS)is so common a disease in our society. Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is the main pathogenesis in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hyponea syndrome (OSAHS). The purpose of this study is to discuss the changes of blood pressure and the expression of NADPH oxidase in carotid body in rats exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia.MethodsThirty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, a CIH group, a chronic continuous hypoxia group and a control group,n=10. When modeling is completed we measured systolic blood pressure of rat tail artery with the tail cuff method; using RT-PCR assay in the rat carotid body NADPH oxidase subunits gp91phox, p22phox, p47phox mRNA expression. Immunohistochemistry and semi-quantitative analysis of NADPH oxidase subunits p22phox were done in the carotid body of all rats.ResultsThe rat SBP was significantly increased in CIH group, Compared with normal group and chronic continuous hypoxia group, and the difference was statistically significant. The expression of NADPH oxidase subunits gp91phox,p22phox,p47phox mRNA were significantly increased in CIH group, and the difference was statistically significant. The Immunohistochemistry and semiquantitative analysis showed that the expression of NADPH oxidase subunit p22phox in the carotid body in CIH group were more than those of chronic continuous hypoxia and control groups. ConclusionCIH can stimulate the rat carotid body in the regulation of expression of NADPH oxidase and to high blood pressure. NADPH oxidase in carotid body in the over-expression may occur in patients with OSAHS is associated with hypertension.