Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Nerve growth factor protects against cadmium-induced hypertension in mice via vascular remodeling

Hao Sun, Xinchun Yang, Meili Zheng, Jiamei Liu, Zongsheng Guo, Linying Shi, Boqia Xie, Yuan Zhang, Xin Wang, Lefeng Wang

Heart Centre, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China;

For correspondence:- Lefeng Wang Email: LefengWang20@yahoo.com Tel:+861065951480

Accepted: 19 June 2021 Published: 29 July 2021

Citation: Sun H, Yang X, Zheng M, Liu J, Guo Z, Shi L, et al. Nerve growth factor protects against cadmium-induced hypertension in mice via vascular remodeling. Trop J Pharm Res 2021; 20(7):1419-1424 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v20i7.14

© 2021 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on cadmium ion (Cd²⁺)-induced hypertension in a mouse model, and the mechanism of action involved.

Methods: Hypertension was induced in mice by administration of cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) at a dose of 100 mg/L in deionised water. Then, NGF was administered daily for 45 days via the intragastric route. Immunohistochemical technique employing Vectastain ABC kit was used for determination of the levels of matrix metalloproteinases in mice aorta.

Results: Treatment with NGF significantly and dose-dependently alleviated Cd-induced increase in blood pressure in mice (p < 0.05). The Cd-induced elevation in mean arterial pressure (MAP) in mice was also reduced on treatment with NGF at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg. At the two doses of NGF, vascular responsiveness was enhanced in Cd-administered mice. Exposure to NGF dose-dependently reversed Cd-mediated suppression of eNOS expression and elevation in iNOS level. Moreover, NGF at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, reversed Cd-mediated enhancement in nitrate/nitrite levels in urine samples, and reversed Cd-induced elevation in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) count and collagen content in mice arterial wall. The NGF treatment also significantly (p < 0.05) reduced Cd-induced increases in levels of MMP’s.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that NGF increased vascularity and arterial stiffness, and protected against Cd-induced hypertension in mice. Moreover, NGF treatment elevated eNOS expression, suppressed iNOS level and inhibited MMP expression in mice exposed to Cd. Thus, NGF has anti-hypertensive potential and may be beneficial in the treatment of hypertension.

Keywords: Hypertension, Nerve growth factor, Cadmium, Oxidative stress