Wang Yu, Thatcher Sean E, Cassis Lisa A
Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Room 521b, Wethington Building, 900 S. Limestone, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
Methods Mol Biol. 2017;1614:69-73. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7030-8_6.
The renin angiotensin system (RAS) is well known for its role in regulating blood pressure (BP). An activated RAS contributes to elevated blood pressure and is evident in both human and animal models of hypertension. Drugs that target the classic vasoconstrictive arm of the RAS (angiotensin II/AT1 receptor signaling) are potent anti-hypertensive agents in clinical setting. However, the newly discovered angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)/angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas receptor axis added new vitality to the hypertension field. Advances in genetic manipulation and the relative low cost made the mouse model as one of the most popular animal models to study hypertension. Since a reliable and accurate method for BP assessment is the key for such experiments, here we provide a protocol for BP measurement in mice using a noninvasive BP system. The CODA noninvasive BP system (a tail-cuff Method, Kent Scientific Corporation) enables blood pressure (BP) measurements in mice. This method uses a specialized volume pressure recording (VPR) sensor, and measures blood volume changes that are placed over the animal's tail. Mice do need to be restrained in specific holders and artificially heated to maintain normal BP.
肾素血管紧张素系统（RAS）因其在调节血压（BP）中的作用而广为人知。激活的RAS会导致血压升高，这在人类和动物高血压模型中均很明显。针对RAS经典血管收缩臂（血管紧张素II/AT1受体信号传导）的药物在临床环境中是强效抗高血压药物。然而，新发现的血管紧张素转换酶2（ACE2）/血管紧张素-（1-7）/Mas受体轴为高血压领域注入了新的活力。基因操作的进展以及相对较低的成本使小鼠模型成为研究高血压最常用的动物模型之一。由于可靠且准确的血压评估方法是此类实验的关键，因此我们在此提供一种使用无创血压系统测量小鼠血压的方案。CODA无创血压系统（一种尾套法，肯特科学公司）可对小鼠进行血压测量。该方法使用专门的容积压力记录（VPR）传感器，并测量置于动物尾巴上的血容量变化。小鼠需要被限制在特定的固定器中，并进行人工加热以维持正常血压。
