Temporal patterns of blood pressure and BMAL1 protein are modified in the heart in a rat model of aging and caloric restriction

TULA, MARINA LUZ; ALTAMIRANO, FERNANDO GABRIEL; LACOSTE, MARÍA GABRIELA; CASTRO PASCUAL, IVANNA CARLA; ANZULOVICH, ANA CECILIA; FERRAMOLA, MARIANA LUCILA

Mendoza

Congreso; XXXVI Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2018

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Aging has been extensively associated with a decline in cardiovascular performance and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and myocardial infarction. Additionally, the circadian system coordinates and synchronizes numerous physiological processes, including cardiovascular function. The performance of this system is also disrupted with aging. On the other hand, caloric restriction (CR) has been recognized as a preventive factor for atherosclerosis and vascular aging. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate if the circadian variation of the blood pressure (BP) and BMAL1 protein levels are altered in the heart of aged rats and aged rats under CR. Holtzman 3- and 22-month old male rats and 22-month old male rats under 3 months of 40% of CR were maintained in constant darkness conditions for 15 days, in order to study the endogenous rhythms. Blood pressure was determined under 12h/12h light/dark (LD) conditions, as well as under 12h/12h dark/dark (DD) conditions. Young rats subjected to LD conditions showed a circadian variation in systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) (rhythm percentage 47.4% and 20.54%, respectively). Under the same conditions, SBP and DBP underwent a loss of circadian oscillation in aged rats. When aged rats were subjected to CR, we observed a restoration of the circadian variation and a phase advancement of SBP and DBP, in comparison to young animals (p