Decreased abundance of alkaline phosphatase and calbindin-D9K mRNAs in the intestine of the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Alkaline phosphatase activity and calbindin-D9K immunoreactivity are decreased in the intestines of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). To investigate the potential role of altered gene expression in these decreases, we measured, by Northern blot analyses, the abundances of alkaline phosphatase and calbindin-D9K mRNAs in the proximal regions of the small intestines of 14-week-old SHR and control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Alternate 4-cm segments of intestine were used for measurements of the proteins (0-4 cm, 8-12 cm, and 16-20 cm from pylorus, segments A1, B1, and C1, respectively) and mRNAs (4-8 cm, 12-16 cm, and 20-24 cm, segments A2, B2, and C2). Calbindin-D9K (immunoassay) was decreased in SHR vs WKY rats by 27%, 64%, and 67% in segments A1, B1, and C1, respectively (P < 0.01); its mRNA was decreased to a similar extent (69%, 82%, and 80%, respectively; P < 0.002 by analysis of variance). Alkaline phosphatase activity was decreased in SHRs by 58%, 54%, and 51% in segments A1, B1, and C1, respectively (P < 0.01); the abundance of its 3.0-kb mRNA was decreased to a similar extent: 57%, 80%, and 69% in segments A2, B2, and C2, respectively (P < 0.02). The mean decreases of the 2.7-kb mRNA of alkaline phosphatase were statistically significant (P < 0.02) but smaller (38%, 40%, and 35%). The mean abundance of vitamin D receptor mRNA in the same animals was decreased slightly in SHR vs WKY rats (3%, 36%, and 20% in segments A2, B2, and C2, respectively), but the difference in the values was not statistically significant. Decreases in alkaline phosphatase activity and calbindin-D9K immunoreactivity may reflect decreased mRNA abundance and not decreased enzyme-specific activity or increased protein degradation.