Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  2016 Nov;20(6):621-628. 10.4196/kjpp.2016.20.6.621.

Lactobacillus casei strain C1 attenuates vascular changes in spontaneously hypertensive rats

• Yap WB
• Ahmad FM
• Lim YC
• Zainalabidin S

• KMID: 2364266
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.2016.20.6.621

Abstract

Hypertension can be caused by various factors while the predominant causes include increase in body fluid volume and resistance in the circulatory system that elevate the blood pressure. Consumption of probiotics has been proven to attenuate hypertension; however, the effect is much strain-dependent. In this study, a newly isolated Lactobacillus casei (Lb. casei) strain C1 was investigated for its antihypertensive properties in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) suspension of 11 log colony-forming unit (CFU) was given to SHR (SHR+LAB, n=8), and phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was given as a control in SHR (SHR, n=8) and in Wistar rats as sham (WIS, n=8). The treatment was given via oral gavage for 8 weeks. The results showed that the weekly systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and aortic reactivity function were remarkably improved after 8 weeks of bacterial administration in SHR+LAB. These effects were mostly attributed by restoration of wall tension and tensile stress following the bacterial treatment. Although not statistically significant, the level of malondialdehye (MDA) in SHR+LAB serum was found declining. Increased levels of glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (NO) in SHR+LAB serum suggested that the bacterium exerted vascular protection through antioxidative functions and relatively high NO level that induced vasodilation. Collectively, Lb. casei strain C1 is a promising alternative for hypertension improvement.

Keyword

Antioxidant; Blood pressure; Nitric oxide; Probiotic; Vascular reactivity

MeSH Terms

Arterial Pressure
Bacteria
Blood Pressure
Body Fluids
Glutathione
Hypertension
Lactic Acid
Lactobacillus casei*
Lactobacillus*
Nitric Oxide
Probiotics
Rats, Inbred SHR*
Rats, Wistar
Stem Cells
Vasodilation
Glutathione
Lactic Acid
Nitric Oxide

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Body weight gain of rats. SHR+LAB and SHR showed lower weight gains than WIS.Body weight gain is expressed as mean±SEM for n=6 each group. asignificant difference (p<0.05) in body weight gains between SHR and WIS. bsignificant difference (p<0.05) in body weight gains between SHR+LAB and WIS.

• 

  Fig. 2 Changes in (A) SBP (B) DBP (C) MAP in rats during the 8 weeks of Lb. casei strain C1 administration.Values are given as mean with SEM for n=6 each group. asignificant in relative to WIS (p<0.05), bsignificant in relative to SHR (p<0.05).

• 

  Fig. 3 Concentration-dependent responses of aortic rings to (A) PE and (B) ACh.Values are presented as mean with SEM for n=6 in each group. asignificant relative to WIS group (p<0.05), bsignificant relative to SHR group (p<0.05), using One-way ANOVA plus Tukey multiple comparison test.

• 

  Fig. 4 Levels of (A) MDA, (B) GSH and (C) NO in the rat serum.Values are presented as mean with SEM for n=6 in each group. asignificant in relative to WIS group (p<0.05), bsignificant in relative to SHR group (p<0.05).

• 

  Fig. 5 Representative microscopic images of H&E-stained aortic wall structures for each group.(A) WIS group displayed normal arrangement of elastic lamella at the tunica media layer. (B) SHR showed disorganized tunica media layer with increased interlamellar space. (C) SHR+LAB group showed a more organized arrangement of elastic lamella than SHR group at the tunica media. L, lumen; TI, tunica intima; TM, tunica media; TA, tunica adventitia (400x magnification).

• 

  Fig. 6 Measurements for (A) IMT, (B) IMA, (C) lumen diameter, (D) CWT and (E) TS were constructed to evaluate degree of vascular remodelling.Values are stated as mean with SEM for n=6 in each group. asignificant in relative to (WIS) (p<0.05), bsignificant in relative to SHR group (p<0.05).

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