Paula Denise Prince

Introducción: Se desconoce el papel del anión cloruro en los efectos deletéreos del consumo excesivo de sal (NaCl) y si sus efectos son independientes de la presencia del sodio. Objetivo: Demostrar que tanto una sobrecarga de cloruro como una sobrecarga de sodio en la dieta producen efectos deletéreos, en forma independiente, sobre la presión arterial sistólica (PAS), la función renal y los marcadores de estrés oxidativo en el riñón. Materiales y métodos: Ratas Wistar macho fueron divididas en cuatro grupos (n = 8/grupo) y fueron alimentadas con diferentes dietas durante tres semanas: C: control (dieta estándar), NaCl: hipersódica-hiperclórica, Na: hipersódica sin cloruro, Cl:hiperclórica sin sodio. Se determinaron la presión arterial sistólica (PAS) y la función renal y en la corteza renal, se evaluó la producción de especies reactivas del ácido tiobarbitúrico (en inglés: TBARS) y la actividad y la expresión de las enzimas superóxido dismutasa (SOD), catalasa (CAT) y glutatión peroxidasa (GPx). Resultados: Al cabo de tres semanas, la PAS aumentó (*) en los dos grupos alimentados con cloruro. La excreción fraccional de sodio y de cloruro aumentó (*) en los grupos NaCl y Na. La diuresis y los TBARS en la corteza renal aumentaron (*) con las tres dietas, sin cambios en la actividad y en la expresión de SOD y CAT. La actividad de la GPx aumentó (*) en los dos grupos que recibieron cloruro; (*p < 0,05 vs C). Conclusión: Tanto la sobrecarga de sodio como la de cloruro se asocian a mayor estado oxidativo caracterizado por un incremento en la peroxidación lipídica en la corteza renal. Sin embargo, solo el exceso de cloruro se asocia a mayor actividad de la GPx y de la hipertensión, sin cambios en la excreción urinaria de cloruros, sugiriendo un mayor estado prooxidante renal en comparación con el grupo Na.

This review summarizes experimental evidence on the beneficial effects of ( −)-epicatechin (EC) attenuating major cardiometabolic risk factors, i.e., dyslipidemias, obesity (adipose tissue dysfunction), hyperglycemia (insulin resistance), and hypertension (endothelial dysfunction). Studies in humans are revised and complemented with experiments in animal models, and cultured cells, aiming to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in EC-mediated effects. Firstly, an assessment of EC metabolism gives relevance to both conjugated-EC metabolites product of host metabolism and microbiota-derived species. Integration and analysis of results stress the maintenance of redox homeostasis and mitigation of inflammation as relevant processes associated with cardiometabolic diseases. In these processes, EC appears having significant effects regulating NADPH oxidase (NOX)–dependent oxidant production, nitric oxide (NO) production, and energy homeostasis (mitochondrial biogenesis and function). The potential participation of cell membranes and membrane-bound receptors is also discussed in terms of direct molecular action of EC and EC metabolites reaching cells and tissues.

Introduction: The role of the chloride anion on the deleterious effects of excessive consumption of salt (NaCl) and whether its effects are independent each other of the presence of sodium remains to date, unknown and unclear. Objective: To demonstrate that both a chloride overload and a sodium overload in the diet produce deleterious effects, by different mechanisms, on systolic blood pressure (SBP), renal function and markers of oxidative stress in the kidney. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 8 / group) and fed with different diets for three weeks: C: control (standard diet), and diets: NaCl: hypersodic-hyperchloric; Na: hypersodic without chloride and Cl: hyperchloric without sodium. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and renal function were determined, and the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and the activity and expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzymes were evaluated in renal cortex tissue. Results: SBP increased (*) in the two groups fed with chloride. The fractional excretion of sodium and chloride increased (*) in the NaCl and Na groups. increased (*) in the renal cortex with the three diets. No changes were observed in the activity and expression of SOD and CAT. GPx activity increased (*) in the two groups that received chloride; (* p <0.05 vs C). Conclusion: Both sodium and chloride overload are associated with a higher oxidative state characterized by an increase in lipid peroxidation in the renal cortex. However, compared with Na group, only chloride overload is associated with higher GPx activity and hypertension without any changes in urinary chloride excretion, suggesting a higher renal pro-oxidant state in this experimental group.

Background: β-blockers are no longer considered as first-line antihypertensive drugs due to their lower cardioprotection. Method: Considering the differences in the pharmacological properties of β-blockers, the present work compared the effects of third-generation β-blockers – carvedilol and nebivolol – with a first-line agent – amlodipine – on hemodynamic parameters, including short-term blood pressure variability (BPV), and their ability to prevent target organ damage in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). SHR rats were orally treated with carvedilol, nebivolol, atenolol, amlodipine or vehicle for 8 weeks. Wistar Kyoto rats treated with vehicle were used as normotensive group. Echocardiographic evaluation, BP, and short-term BPV measurements were performed. Left ventricle and thoracic aorta were removed for histological evaluations and to assess the expression of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Results: Carvedilol, nebivolol or amlodipine induced a greater reduction of carotid BP, short-term BPV and echocardiography parameters than atenolol in SHR rats. Carvedilol, nebivolol and amlodipine were more effective than atenolol in the prevention of cardiac hypertrophy, and cardiac and aortic collagen deposit. Carvedilol and nebivolol, but not atenolol, reduced the expressions of fibrotic and inflammatory biomarkers – TGF-β, TNF-α and IL-6 – in SHR rats to a similar extent to that of amlodipine. Conclusion: Chronic treatment with carvedilol or nebivolol attenuates carotid BP and short-term BPV, and reduces target organ damage in SHR to a greater extent than atenolol. Our findings suggest that the lower cardiovascular protection of nonvasodilating β-blockers, as atenolol, in hypertension must not be translated to third-generation β-blockers.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the protective effects of (−)-epicatechin on the kidneys of NO-deprived rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control (C), receiving water and standard diet; L-NAME (L), receiving a solution of N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (360 mg l⁻¹ in water) as a beverage and standard diet; and L-NAME-(−)-epicatechin (LE), receiving L-NAME solution as a beverage and standard diet supplemented with (−)-epicatechin (4 g kg⁻¹ diet). The L-group showed altered kidney function parameters, evaluated based on plasma urea and creatinine. In parallel, kidney oxidative stress markers, i.e. superoxide anion production, malondialdehyde content, and 3-nitrotyrosine protein adducts, were significantly increased in the L group. In addition, L-NAME treatment induced modifications in kidney NO bioavailability determinants: increased expression of NOX subunits (p47^phox, gp91^phox, NOXO1, and NOX4) and lowered NOS activity. (−)-Epicatechin administration restored kidney function parameters, oxidative stress markers, expression of p47^phox, gp91^phox, and NOX4 and NOS activity to control values. These results indicate that (−)-epicatechin can mitigate NO-mediated impairment of kidney function, in part due to its capacity to modulate NOXs, NOSs, and consequently oxidative stress, and NO bioavailability.

Inflammation involves the activation of redox-sensitive transcription factors, e.g., nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). Administration of (−)-epicatechin to high-fructose-fed rats prevented NF-κB activation and up-regulation of the NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) in the kidney cortex. These results add mechanistic insights into the action of (−)-epicatechin diminishing inflammatory responses.