Neurotrophin 3 is increased in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Objective To determine whether the noradrenergic sympathetic hyperinnervati on in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), a genetic model of essentia l hypertension, is associated with changes in neurotrophin 3 (NT3) concentr ations. Methods NT3 levels were measured using a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorb ent assay (ELISA) in the superior cervical ganglia (SCG), heart, mesenteric artery (MA) and blood of postnatal and mature SHR and normotensive Wistar- Kyoto (WKY) rats. Results and conclusions NT3 levels in SHR are significantly higher in the S CG during the first 4 postnatal weeks, and in the heart and MA from 2 to 10 weeks of age, compared with levels in WKY rats. The elevated NT3 found in the sympathetic ganglia and hyperinnervated organs of SHR indicates that NT 3 may play an important role in the development of hyperinnervation, possib ly by enhancing the survival and/or nerve sprouting of sympathetic neurons. J Hypertens 19:2251-2256 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.