Nous avons précédemment montré que l’activation du récepteur natriurétique de type C (NPR-C) par son agoniste spécifique, le C-ANP4-23, atténue l’augmentation de la prolifération des cellules du muscle lisse vasculaire (CMLV) induite par les peptides vasoactifs (Ang II, ET-1 et l’AVP). Puisque les CMLV provenant de rats spontanément hypertendus (SHR) montrent elles aussi un taux de prolifération plus élevé que leur contrôle, les CMLV de rats Wystar-Kyoto (WKY), nous avons entrepris cette étude dans le but de déterminer si C-ANP4-23 peut également diminuer le taux élevé de prolifération des CMLV de SHR et, le cas échéant déterminer les mécanismes responsables de cette réponse. Nos résultats montrent que le taux de prolifération des CMLV de SHR est significativement plus élevé que celui des CMLV de WKY et que la présence de C-ANP4-23 diminue de manière-dose dépendante le taux de prolifération des CMLV de SHR. En plus, l’expression des protéines de la phase G1 du cycle cellulaire, la cycline D1, la kinase dépendante des cyclines 2 (cdk2) et la forme phosphorylée de la protéine du rétinoblastome (pRb) est augmentée dans les CMLV de SHR comparativement aux CMLV de WKY et est atténué par C-ANP4-23. De plus, nos résultats montrent que les inhibiteurs du complexe cycline D1/cdk4 (NSC 625987) et cdk2 (NU2058) diminue le taux de prolifération élevé des CMLV de SHR. Les CMLV de SHR montrent également un taux de phosphorylation de ERK1/2 et d’AKT et est atténué par C-ANP4-23. De plus, le taux d’expression élevé des protéines cycline D1, cdk2 et pRb des CMLV de SHR est diminué par la toxine pertussis qui inactive la protéine Giα, le PD 98095, un inhibiteur de MEK de la voie des MAPK, du wortmannin, un inhibiteur de la PI3-K et finalement du losartan, un antagoniste du récepteur AT1. Ces résultats suggèrent que l’activation du récepteur NPR-C par C-ANP4-23 diminue le taux de prolifération élevé des CMLV de SHR par une régulation à la baisse des composantes du cycle cellulaire via l’inhibition de la protéine Giα et des voies signalétique MAP kinase/PI3-K. / We have previously shown that natriuretic peptide receptor-C (NPR-C) activation by C-ANP4-23 decreased the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) induced by vasoactive peptides (Ang II, ET-1 and AVP). Since, VSMC from SHR also exhibit an enhanced proliferation as compared to VSMC from WKY, we undertook the present study to investigate if C-ANP4-23 could also attenuate the enhanced proliferation of VSMC from SHR and to further explore the underlying mechanisms responsible for this response. The proliferation of VSMC from SHR was significantly increased as compared to VSMC from WKY as determined by [3H]thymidine incorporation and was attenuated by C-ANP4-23 in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdk2) and phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (pRb) was enhanced in VSMC from SHR compared to WKY which was attenuated by C-ANP4-23. In addition, the inhibitor of cdk4/cyclinD1 (NSC 625987) and cdk2 (NU2058) also attenuated the enhanced proliferation of VSMC from SHR in a concentration-dependent manner. VSMC from SHR also exhibited the enhanced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and AKT as compared to WKY which was attenuated by C-ANP4-23.. Furthermore, the enhanced expression of cyclin D1, cdk2 and pRb in VSMC from SHR were also attenuated by pertussis toxin that inactivates Giα protein, PD 98095, a MEK kinase inhibitor, wortmannin, PI3K inhibitor as well as by losartan, an AT1 receptor antagonist. These results suggest that NPR-C activation attenuates the enhanced proliferation of VSMC from SHR which may be attributed to Giα /MAP kinase/PI3K-mediated inhibition of the expression of cell cycle components.

Le trouble déficit de l’attention avec ou sans hyperactivité (TDAH) est une maladie neurodéveloppementale de l’enfant et de l’adulte caractérisée par un déficit attentionnel, une impulsivité et une hyperactivité. La physiopathologie de cette maladie demeure non élucidée, néanmoins des stratégies thérapeutiques médicamenteuses s’avèrent efficaces. En France, le médicament utilisé dans le traitement du TDAH est le méthylphénydate (MPH) qui est un psychostimulant, et deux autres molécules paraissent prometteuses : le dymésilate de lisdexamfétamine (LDX - psychostimulant) et la guanfacine (GFC - non psychostimulant). Les cibles moléculaires de ces médicaments sont bien connues mais l’impact de ces traitement en aigu et chronique sur le fonctionnement cérébral est pour l’instant peu documenté. L’objectif de cette thèse a été d’étudier (i) la physiopathologie du TDAH et (ii) les effets de ces traitements du TDAH en aigu et en chronique sur un versant préclinique et à l’aide de l’imagerie microTEP couplée au 2-deoxy-2-(18F)fluoro-d-glucose (18FDG). Dans la première étude, des modèles animaux du TDAH ont été utilisés : des rats SHR/NCrl présentanttroubles de l’attention, hyperactivité et impulsivité et des rats WKY/NCrl présentant uniquement des troubles de l’attention. Une imagerie microTEP au 18FDG sur animal éveillé a été réalisée sur ces animaux adultes afin d’obtenir leurs profils d’activité cérébrale. Notre hypothèse était que les rats SHR/NCrl et WKY/NCrl présenteraient des modifications de capture de 18FDG similaires qui seraient impliquées dans le trouble attentionnel commun aux deux souches, alors que les rats SHR/NCrl présenteraient aussi des modifications non retrouvés chez les WKY/NCrl qui joueraient un rôle dans la genèse de l’hyperactivité-impulsivité. Cettehypothèse a été confirmée par nos résultats montrant des dysfonctions fronto-striatales limbiques et du réseau du mode par défaut chez les rats SHR/NCrl et WKY/NCrl, ainsi que des dysfonctions fronto-striatales associatives spécifiques aux rats SHR/NCrl.Dans la seconde étude, un traitement journalier au MPH, au LDX ou à la GFC a été mis en place chez des rats témoins de l’adolescence à l’âge adulte (mimant un traitement de l’enfance à la fin de l’adolescence chez l’homme). Les effets de ces traitements sur l’activité cérébrale ont été évalués après la première et la dernière injection par imagerie microTEP au 18FDG sur animal éveillé. Nos résultats montrent que chaque médicament a un effet important sur les régions limbiques, et que le LDX présente une action supplémentaire sur des régions associatives et sur les régions du réseau du mode par défaut. A notre connaissance, ce sont les premières données de neuroimagerie en préclinique qui mettent en avant l’implication des régions limbiques liées à la motivation et du réseau du mode par défaut dans la physiopathologie du TDAH. Nos résultats renforcent l’hypothèse selon laquelle les médicaments du TDAH agiraient sur les troubles primaires du TDAH et non en compensant un déficit d’attention par une augmentation de la motivation. Ces résultats suggèrent aussi que (i) la GFC est un non psychostimulant qui présente deseffets similaires au médicament de référence le MPH, et que (ii) le LDX montre un profil d’action intéressant car touchant à la fois les régions limbiques, associatives et le réseau du mode par défaut que nous trouvons toutes perturbées chez les rats SHR/NCrl. / Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) is a neurodevelopment disorder affecting childs and adults presenting attention deficits, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Despite numerous neuroimaging studies on ADHD patients, the specific dysfunctions underlying the symptoms of ADHD remain unknown. To date, ADHD patients can be treated using psychostimulant drugs such as methylphenidate (MPH) and other promising compounds are currently in development (dymesilate-lisdexamfétamine (LDX) and guanfacine (GFC), that are psychostimulant and non psychostimulant medications, respectively). Even if the molecular targets of these medications are well defined, how these compounds will impact the brain activity to reverse ADHD symptoms is less known. The objectives of this work were to study (i) the pathophysiology of ADHD and (i) the effects of an acute or repeated administration of MPH, LDX or GFC using animal models and microPET imaging with 2-deoxy-2-(18F)fluoro-d-glucose (18FDG). First, we used an animal model of ADHD, namely the SHR/NCrl and WKY/NCrl rats that both exhibit attention deficits, with impulsivity-hyperactivity only displayed by SHR/NCrl rats. MicroPET imaging using 18FDG on awake rats was performed to obtain brain metabolic profiles of these animals. Our hypothesis was that SHR/NCrl and WKY/NCrl would shared brain dysfunctions in several regions of interest involved in the attention deficits, while SHR/NCrl rats would also displayed specific abnormalities related to hyperactivity-impulsivity. Our results confirmed these hypothesis as both SHR/NCrl and WKY/NCrl showed metabolic alterations in fronto-striatal limbic regions and in areas of the default mode network. In addition, SHR/NCrl specifically exhibited functional modifications in fronto-striatal associative areas.Second, daily injections with MPH, LDX or GFC were performed on control rats from adolescence to adulthood (corresponding to a treatment from childhood to the end of adolescence in humans). The effects of such treatments were evaluated after the first and the last injections on freely moving rats using microPET imaging with 18FDG. Our results showed that each medication affects the activity of limbic brain regions. In addition, LDX has an interesting profile showing effects also on associative fronto-striatal areas and on thedefault mode network. To our knowledge, these are the first preclinical neuroimaging results highlighting the crucial role of limbic brain regions related to motivation and the default mode network in the pathophysiology of attention deficits in ADHD. These data also reinforce the hypothesis that ADHD medications act on the brain areas primarily involved in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Interestingly, we showed that GFC and MPH shared the same effects on the limbic brain regions suggesting that this non psychostimulant medication is of a great interest for the treatment of ADHD. While MPH and GFC act primarily on limbic circuits, LDX also altered the activity of the default mode network and associative fronto-striatal areas. This support the hypothesis that LDX could be an interesting education for treating ADHD acting on all the systems identified as dysfunctional in the animal models of ADHD.

Submitted by GABRIEL MULINARI DOS SANTOS (gabriel_mulinari@hotmail.com) on 2018-02-14T10:31:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Gabriel_Repositorio.pdf: 2013798 bytes, checksum: e83e70bf61f06fb298685c59bc39ea6f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Claudio Hideo Matsumoto null (claudio@foa.unesp.br) on 2018-02-14T18:04:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 santos_gm_me_araca_int.pdf: 2013798 bytes, checksum: e83e70bf61f06fb298685c59bc39ea6f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-14T18:04:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 santos_gm_me_araca_int.pdf: 2013798 bytes, checksum: e83e70bf61f06fb298685c59bc39ea6f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-09 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Introdução: A hipertensão está associada a doenças cardiovasculares, mas também com alterações na qualidade óssea. A hipertensão, portanto, pode ser um fator de risco para a osseointegração. Estudos pré-clínicos sugerem que o losartan, um bloqueador dos receptores da angiotensina II amplamente utilizado para tratar a hipertensão, tem um efeito benéfico na consolidação do enxerto. No entanto, o efeito da hipertensão e do losartan na osteointegração permanece desconhecido. Material e Métodos: Aqui utilizamos ratos ratas espontaneamente hipertensivos (SHR) e ratos Wistar albinus normotensos que receberam losartan (30 mg / kg, p.o.) ou não tratados. Após uma semana, mini-implantes de titânio foram inseridos na tíbia. Sessenta dias após a implantação, a estabilidade do implante foi avaliada pela medição de torque de remoção considerada o ponto final primário. A tomografia computadorizada micro e a análise histomorfométrica foram parâmetros secundários. Resultados: o Losartan aumentou o torque de remoção no grupo SHR hipertenso para os níveis dos controles Wistar. Enquanto os parâmetros corticais da osseointegração permaneceram inalterados, losartan aumentaram a formação do osso medular. A micro tomografia computorizada revelou maior volume ósseo por volume de tecido e espessura trabecular nos ratos SHR tratados com losartan. A análise histomorfométrica mostrou ainda que o losartan aumentou significativamente a espessura do osso recém-formado na área medular em ratos SHR hipertensos. O losartan não alterou significativamente os parâmetros de osseointegração em ratos normotensos. Conclusões: Os dados apresentados sugerem que o antagonista dos receptores da angiotensina II losartan aumenta os parâmetros medulares da osseointegração no modelo da tíbia de ratos espontaneamente hipertensos. / Background: Hypertension is associated with cardiovascular diseases but also with alterations in bone quality. Hypertension therefore might be a risk factor for osseointegration. Preclinical studies suggest that losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker widely used to treat hypertension, has a beneficial effect in graft consolidation. However, the effect of hypertension and losartan on osseointegration remains unknown. Methods: Here we used spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar albinus rats receiving losartan (30 mg/kg, p.o.) or left untreated. After one week, titanium miniscrews were inserted into the tibia. Sixty days after implantation, implant stability was evaluated by removal torque measurement considered the primary endpoint. Micro computed tomography and histomorphometric analysis were secondary endpoints. Results: Losartan increased the removal torque in the hypertensive SHR group to levels of the Wistar controls. While the cortical parameters of osseointegration remained unchanged, losartan increased medullary bone formation. Micro computed tomography revealed a higher bone volume per tissue volume and trabecular thickness in the SHR rats treated with losartan. Histomorphometric analysis further showed that losartan significantly increased the thickness of newly formed bone in medullary area in hypertensive SHR rats. Losartan did not significantly alter the parameters of osseointegration in normotensive rats. Conclusions: The data presented suggest that the angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan increases the medullary parameters of osseointegration in a tibia model of spontaneously hypertensive rats. / 16/03245-2

Evidências epidemiológicas tem sugerido que a desnutrição intra-uterina pode ter papel importante no desenvolvimento de hipertensão arterial na fase adulta. No presente trabalho, foi estudada a influência da desnutrição intra-uterina na reatividade vascular e na pressão arterial de animais Wistar e SHR (ambos os sexos). Para tanto, ratas prenhes foram submetidas à restrição alimentar equivalente a 50% da dieta normal, durante toda a gestação. Curvas concentração-efeito à noradrenalina (NA), acetilcolina (ACh) e ao nitroprussiato de sódio (NPS) foram realizadas em anéis de aorta de ratos Wistar e SHR nutridos e desnutridos (ambos os sexos). A desnutrição intra-uterina elevou a pressão arterial em animais Wistar, machos e fêmeas, até níveis considerados de hipertensão. Além disso, acarretou alterações da reatividade à NA e à ACh, mas não ao NPS. Em animais SHR, de ambos os sexos, os efeitos deletérios da desnutrição intra-uterina foram capazes de exacerbar a hipertensão e a disfunção endotelial já existentes nesses animais. / Epidemiological studies suggest that intrauterine undernutrition can play an important role in the development of arterial hypertension in adulthood (FERRARI et al., 2000). Furthermore, maternal malnutrition during organ developmental stage impairs fetal growth and is believed to alter permanently the metabolism and physiology of the developing tissues. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of intrauterine undernutrition in the arterial blood and vascular reactivity pressure of male and female normotensive (Wistar) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats offspring. Female pregnant rats (Wistar and SHR) were fed either normal or 50% of the normal intake diets, during the whole gestational period. Arterial blood pressure and the norepinephrine (NE), acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) dose-response curves in isolated aortic rings of their offspring (male and female – when they reached adulthood) were determined. In Wistar rats, the intrauterine undernutrition induced an increase in the arterial blood pressure, leading to hypertension. Dietary restriction during pregnancy of Wistar rats altered the vascular reactivity to NE and ACh, whereas the response to SNP remained unaltered in the offspring. In the SHR offspring (male and female) the intrauterine undernutrition exacerbates the already existing hypertension and endothelial dysfunction. In summary, this study has shown that intrauterine undernutrition increased the arterial blood pressure and altered the vascular reactivity of male and female normotensive and SHR offspring.

Evidências epidemiológicas tem sugerido que a desnutrição intra-uterina pode ter papel importante no desenvolvimento de hipertensão arterial na fase adulta. No presente trabalho, foi estudada a influência da desnutrição intra-uterina na reatividade vascular e na pressão arterial de animais Wistar e SHR (ambos os sexos). Para tanto, ratas prenhes foram submetidas à restrição alimentar equivalente a 50% da dieta normal, durante toda a gestação. Curvas concentração-efeito à noradrenalina (NA), acetilcolina (ACh) e ao nitroprussiato de sódio (NPS) foram realizadas em anéis de aorta de ratos Wistar e SHR nutridos e desnutridos (ambos os sexos). A desnutrição intra-uterina elevou a pressão arterial em animais Wistar, machos e fêmeas, até níveis considerados de hipertensão. Além disso, acarretou alterações da reatividade à NA e à ACh, mas não ao NPS. Em animais SHR, de ambos os sexos, os efeitos deletérios da desnutrição intra-uterina foram capazes de exacerbar a hipertensão e a disfunção endotelial já existentes nesses animais. / Epidemiological studies suggest that intrauterine undernutrition can play an important role in the development of arterial hypertension in adulthood (FERRARI et al., 2000). Furthermore, maternal malnutrition during organ developmental stage impairs fetal growth and is believed to alter permanently the metabolism and physiology of the developing tissues. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of intrauterine undernutrition in the arterial blood and vascular reactivity pressure of male and female normotensive (Wistar) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats offspring. Female pregnant rats (Wistar and SHR) were fed either normal or 50% of the normal intake diets, during the whole gestational period. Arterial blood pressure and the norepinephrine (NE), acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) dose-response curves in isolated aortic rings of their offspring (male and female – when they reached adulthood) were determined. In Wistar rats, the intrauterine undernutrition induced an increase in the arterial blood pressure, leading to hypertension. Dietary restriction during pregnancy of Wistar rats altered the vascular reactivity to NE and ACh, whereas the response to SNP remained unaltered in the offspring. In the SHR offspring (male and female) the intrauterine undernutrition exacerbates the already existing hypertension and endothelial dysfunction. In summary, this study has shown that intrauterine undernutrition increased the arterial blood pressure and altered the vascular reactivity of male and female normotensive and SHR offspring.

Il a été démontré que la sirtuine 1 (Sirt-1), une histone désacétylase de classe III, est surexprimée dans le coeur des rats spontanément hypertendus (SHR). Nous avons récemment montré que les cellules musculaires lisses vasculaires (CMLV) des SHR présentent une expression accrue de Sirt-1 par rapport aux rats Wistar Kyoto (WKY) de même âge qui contribue à l’augmentation de la régulation de la protéine Giα impliquée dans la pathogenèse de l'hypertension. La présente étude a été effectuée pour étudier le rôle de l'augmentation de l'expression de la Sirt-1 dans la pathogenèse de l'hypertension chez les SHR et pour explorer les mécanismes moléculaires impliqués dans cette réponse. Dans cette étude, un inhibiteur sélectif de la Sirt-1, EX-527 (5 mg/kg de poids corporel), a été injecté par voie intrapéritonéale chez des rats SHR adultes de 8 semaines et des rats WKY de même âge, deux fois par semaine pendant 3 semaines. La pression artérielle (PA) et la fréquence cardiaque ont été mesurées deux fois par semaine par la méthode non invasive du brassard autour de la queue. Le traitement avec l’inhibiteur spécifique de la Sirt-1, l'EX-527, a atténué les augmentations de PA (de 76 mmHg) et de fréquence cardiaque chez les rats SHR. La surexpression de Sirt-1 et des protéines Giα dans le coeur, les CMLV et l'aorte a été atténuée au niveau des contrôles par l'inhibiteur de la Sirt-1. L'inhibition de la Sirt-1 a également atténué les niveaux accrus des anions superoxydes, l’activité de la NADPH oxydase et la surexpression des sous-unités de la NADPH oxydase ; les protéines Nox2, Nox4 et P47phox dans les CMLV isolées des SHR traités par l’EX-527. De plus, les niveaux réduits du monoxyde d'azote synthase endothélial (eNOS) et du monoxyde d'azote (NO) et les niveaux accrus de la peroxynitrite (ONOO-) dans les CMLV des SHR ont également été rétablis à des niveaux contrôles par l'inhibiteur de la Sirt-1. Ces résultats suggèrent que l'inhibition de la surexpression de la Sirt-1, en diminuant les niveaux accrus des protéines Giα et du stress nitro-oxydant, atténue la PA élevée chez les rats SHR. Il est donc possible de suggérer que les inhibiteurs de la Sirt-1 puissent être utilisés comme des agents thérapeutiques dans le traitement des complications cardiovasculaires associées à l'hypertension. / Sirtuin-1 (Sirt-1), class III histone deacetylase, has been shown to be overexpressed in hearts from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). We recently showed that vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from SHR exhibit enhanced expression of Sirt-1 as compared to age-matched Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, which contributes to the upregulation of Giα protein implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension. The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of upregulated Sirt-1 expression in the pathogenesis of hypertension in SHR and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in this response. For this study, a selective inhibitor of Sirt-1, EX-527 (5mg/kg of body weight), was injected intraperitoneally into 8-week-old adult SHR and age-matched WKY rats twice per week for 3 weeks. The blood pressure (BP) and heart rate was measured twice a week by the CODA™ non-invasive tail cuff method. Treatment of SHR with Sirt-1-specific inhibitor, EX-527, attenuated high BP by 76 mmHg and inhibited the augmented heart rate. The overexpression of Sirt-1 and Giα proteins in heart, VSMC and aorta was attenuated to the control levels by Sirt-1 inhibitor. Inhibition of Sirt-1 also attenuated the enhanced levels of superoxide anion, NADPH oxidase activity and the overexpression of NADPH oxidase subunits; Nox2, Nox4 and P47phox proteins in VSMC isolated from EX-527-treated SHR. Furthermore, the decreased levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) and increased levels of peroxynitrite (ONOO-) in VSMC from SHR were also restored to control levels by Sirt-1 inhibitor. These results suggest that the inhibition of overexpression of Sirt-1 through decreasing the enhanced levels of Giα proteins and nitro-oxidative stress attenuates the high BP in SHR. It may thus be suggested that inhibitors of Sirt-1 may have the potential to be used as therapeutic agents in the treatment of cardiovascular complications associated with hypertension.

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Background: A major problem in the treatment of human hypertension is the late diagnosis of hypertension and, hence, the delayed start of treatment. Very often, hypertension has existed for a long time and cardiac damage has already developed. Therefore, we tested whether lateonset antihypertensive treatment is effective in lowering blood pressure (BP) and in reducing or even preventing left ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis. Methods: Twenty-one male 60-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were included. Fourteen rats received oral treatment with captopril (CAP) either as monotherapy or combined with nifedipine (CAP + NIF) over 22 weeks. Seven untreated SHR served as controls. We examined the therapeutic effects on BP, heart weight and histological and biochemical markers of left ventricular remodeling and fibrosis. Results: At 82 weeks of age, BP was reduced in the CAP and CAP + NIF groups by 44 and 51 mmHg, respectively (p < 0.001), but not in untreated controls. Despite the late therapy start, cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis were attenuated compared to controls. Both treatments reduced heart weight by 1.2 mg/g (25%, p = 0.001) and collagens I and III by 66% and 60%, respectively (p < 0.001), thus proving nearly equivalent cardioprotective efficacy. Conclusion: These data clearly emphasize the benefit of antihypertensive treatment in reducing BP and mitigating the development of cardiac damage even when treatment is started late in life.

There are gaps in the fundamental understanding of the expression of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) in the microvasculature. We examined co-localization of NOS1 (nNOS), NOS2 (iNOS) and NOS3 (eNOS) in the spinotrapezius muscle of young adult male Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Spontaneously Hypertensive (SHR) rats according to fiber type using immunohistochemistry and brightfield microscopy. Data regarding fiber distribution, population and morphology data were collected. Alkaline phosphatase staining was used to determine capillary density and average number of capillaries around a fiber. Gel electrophoresis and Western blot techniques were used to compare myosin heavy chain (MHC) protein expression with fiber type population data and to determine NOS1-3 protein expression in whole muscle homogenate. This study should provide a more accurate understanding of differences in NOS expression between these two strains of rats.