Rodent Hypertension Models

Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Creative Biolabs brings years of experience in preclinical pharmacology studies of drug candidates in hypertension. We offer study-specific services with your investigative compounds in various rodent hypertension models.

Introduction of Hypertension

Hypertension is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. It is a multifactorial, polygenic disease that involves complex interactions between genetically determined homeostatic control mechanisms and environmental factors. This disorder has received a great deal interest due to its frequent occurrence globally and the associated end-organ damages, such as cardiac hypertrophy, arteriosclerosis, and stroke. Thus, various experimental animal models have been developed to mimic hypertensive responses observed in humans, which are beneficial in understanding the pathophysiology and allowing researchers to have a better understanding of the etiology, development, and progression of hypertension.

Rodent Hypertension Models Fig.1 Pathophysiological mechanism of hypertension and factors mediating it. (Yahaya et al. 2014)

Available Rodent Hypertension Models at Creative Biolabs

Creative Biolabs has established a number of rodent hypertension models using different methods, including surgical hypertension, genetic hypertension models, and endocrine hypertension models. Our team offers preclinical pharmacological screening services of potential antihypertensive drugs in the following models of hypertension. We fully understand the importance of choosing the most appropriate animal model to answer the specific research question and we will work side-by-side with our clients in providing scientific guidance, customized study design, end-point analysis, and help in data interpretation.

Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR)

SHR is one of the commonly used murine genetic models of hypertension and it has become the animal of choice for the screening of antihypertensive agents and the cornerstone of medical research in experimental hypertension. It allows the researchers to study the natural history, genetic factors, and pathophysiological changes in hypertension. SHR is developed by inbreeding Wistar rats with the highest blood pressure (BP). The BP increases at week 4 to week 6 and reaches systolic BP of 180-200 mmHg. Besides, SHR may develop cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac failure, renal dysfunction, and impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations.

Surgically-Induced Hypertension

The most widely used surgical model of hypertension is the two kidney one clip (2K1C) model. In this model, the renal artery is constricted on only one side with the other artery (or kidney) left untouched. Thus, the reduction of glomerular filtration provokes a sustained activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) followed by progressive hypertension.

Another surgical model is the one kidney one clip (1K1C) model, where the constriction of the renal artery is done on one side and the contralateral kidney is removed. In this model, the initial increase in the RAAS activity is rapidly blunted by sodium and water retention due to the absence of one kidney. High blood pressure is then maintained by an increase of the sympathetic nervous system activity.

DOCA-Salt Hypertension

Deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt (DOCA-salt) is a common endocrine model of hypertension. The induction of hypertension usually requires the administration of DOCA in a combination with high salt diet and unilateral nephrectomy. DOCA-induced hypertension induces a low renin model of hypertension. Moreover, increased cardiac weight, proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis, and impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations can be observed.

Angiotensin-2 Infusion

Angiotensin II (AGII), the major biologically active component of the renin-angiotensin system, contributes to the regulation of vascular tone, salt and water balance, and blood pressure. The continuous delivery of high doses of AGII by means of osmotic pumps can rapidly induce an increase in BP in rats. It is also associated with a cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis and it activates pathways involved in oxidative stress in the heart, the vessel walls, and the brain.