Increaseed expression of mRNA for regulator of G protein signaling domain–containing Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors in aorta from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

Background Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RhoGEF) link activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) to RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling. This cellular signaling pathway regulates vascular tone and is implicated in hypertension. The RhoGEF, providing this coupling, contain the regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) domain. We hypothesized higher mRNA expression levels for these RhoGEF in aorta from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). Methods We measured mRNA expression by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in the aorta of Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and SHRSP. The protein expression level of p115RhoGEF was examined by Western Blot, too. Results Our results showed that mRNA for RGS domain containing RhoGEF is higher in SHRSP. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that RhoGEF may contribute to increased activation of RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in hypertension.