Male DS and DR rats were placed on a HS (8 % NaCl) or low salt (LS, 0.3 % NaCl) diet for 4 weeks. Cardiac HO isoform expression were determined by immunohistochemistry. Experiments used isolated paced Langendorff-hearts perfused at a constant flow. Changes in coronary perfusion pressure and left ventricular contractility (dP/dtmax) were measured in response to an inhibitor of HO, chromium mesoporphyrin (CrMP).
With respect to the LS group, DS rats on HS diet showed elevated mean arterial pressure and increased heart weight. Coronary arterial HO-1 immunostaining was enhanced in HS rats, but HO-2 staining was similar in both groups. In isolated Langendorff-hearts the HO inhibitor CrMP increased coronary perfusion pressure and calculated coronary resistance, and decreased left ventricular contractility (dP/dtmax) in both groups, but the response was exaggerated in HS rat hearts. In the DR strain, HS diet did not augment CrMP responses and had no effect on any of the parameters measured with respect to the LS diet.
These findings suggest that coronary HO-1 expression is increased to promote enhanced coronary vasodilation in DS rats with salt-induced hypertension.