Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in Mice: Contribution of Apoptotic Process

Abstract

ObjectivesNowadays, some studies has emphasize the apoptosis plays a decisive role in cardiac hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to investigate if apoptotic factors were altered in heart after renal ischemia/reperfusion.MethodsC57bl/6J mice were subjected to unilateral 60 min kidney ischemia, followed by reperfusion of 5, 8, 12, 15 and 20 days. Levels of urea were measured to confirm renal failure and gene expression were analyzed by real time PCR.ResultsUrea levels were increased in groups 5, 15 and 20 days (P<0.05). The group 15 days showed a significant increase in heart weight/body weight ratio when compared to sham group. The AIF was increased at 8 and 12 days groups (P<0.05), whereas the anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 mRNA levels were increased after 8 days (P<0.05). The Caspase 3 and 9 mRNA levels were increased only after 15 days of reperfusion (p<0.05).ConclusionFirst, the results indicate that renal ischemia/reperfusion model is able to induce a transient cardiac hypertrophy in mice. Levels of mRNA analysis suggests that pro‐apoptotic AIF, Bid, Caspase 3 and 9 might be involved to modulation of cardiac hypertrophy, since we observed an increase in major pro‐apoptotic factors at the same time we observed an increase in cardiac mass.