Cardiovascular modifications in ovariectomized rats: Role of the sodium/proton exchanger (NHE) and the sodium/bicarbonate cotransporter (NBC)

MOSCA MS; DE GIUSTI VC; ESPEJO MS; AIELLO EA; IBAÑEZ AM

Buenos Aires

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta de Sociedades de Biociencia; 2017

During post menopause, women are exposed to an increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. Although the main cause seems to be the loss of estrogen, the precise intracellular modifications are still unknown. The sodium/proton exchanger (NHE) and the sodium/bicarbonate cotransporter (NBC) regulate intracellular pH (pHi). NBC has two isoforms: electrogenic (1Na+/2HCO3-; NBCe1) and electroneutral (1Na+/1HCO3-; NBCn1). Hyperactivity of NHE and NBCn1 and down-regulation of NBCe1 are associated with several CV diseases. The aim of this work is to investigate the alterations of these transporters during the postmenopausal period, which could explain the increase in CV risk. Bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) was performed in 3 months old Wistar rats. Sham animals were generated by surgical incisions without ovariectomy. The increase in body weight and left ventricle mass was greater in OVX than in Sham. Systolic blood pressure was higher in OVX (125.80±3.20mmHg*, n=12; vs 118±2.00mmHg n=20). Cardiac function after an ischemia/reperfusion protocol showed a clear alteration in OVX (i.e. developed left ventricle pressure: 5.66±2.30% vs 21.01±5.36%; n=6, p