Tumor necrosis factor-α-induced hypertension in pregnant rats results in decreased renal neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression

Background: Preeclampsia is associated with increases in plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a cytokine known to contribute to endothelial dysfunction. We recently reported that a twofold elevation in plasma TNF-alpha produces significant reductions in renal function and hypertension in pregnant rats. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of the nitric oxide (NO) system in TNF-alpha-induced hypertension in pregnant rats. Methods: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (50 ng/day) was chronically infused starting at day 14 of gestation. Mean arterial pressure, 24-h urinary nitrite/nitrate excretion, and renal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) protein expression by Western blot analysis was measured at day 19 of gestation. Results: A twofold increase in plasma TNF-alpha levels in pregnant rats resulted in a significant increase in arterial pressure (97 +/-- 3.6 v 116 +/- 2.1 mm Fig, pregnant versus TNF-alpha pregnant, respectively, P < .05), but no significant change in urinary nitrite/nitrate excretion (22.0 +/- 1.9 v 20.8 +/- 2.5 mu mol/24 h, pregnant versus TNF-alpha pregnant, respectively), a measure of whole body NO production, As abnormalities in renal production of NO Would not be reflected in the measure of whole body NO production, changes in renal NOS protein levels were determined. The protein expression of both neuronal (nNOS) and inducible (iNOS) nitric oxide synthase were significantly decreased in the medulla of TNF-alpha pregnant rats (nNOS: 10.6 +/- 0.7 v 8.2 +/- 0.8 densitometric units, P < .05; and iNOS: 19.2 +/- 0.9 v 15.4 +/- 0.8 densitometric units, P < .05, pregnant versus TNF-alpha pregnant, respectively). Conclusion: The hypertension associated with a chronic twofold increase in TNF-alpha in pregnant rats is associated with significant decreases in renal nNOS and iNOS protein production. Am J Hypertens 2002.15: 170-175 (C) 2002 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd.