Aldosterone Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in Rats by Regulating the Expression of Calcineurin Inhibitor

This study aimed to investigate the expression of calcineurin inhibitor (Cain) and related factors in cardiac hypertrophy induced by aldosterone (ALD) in rats. A total of 28 Wistar-Kyoto rats were divided into four different groups: control group, ALD group, spironolactone group, and cyclosporin A (CsA) group. Body weight (BW), heart weight (HW), left ventricular weight (LVW), and neuropeptide Y (NPY) were measured for two weeks after treatment. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of Cain. Blood pressure (BP), LVW/BW, HW/BW, and Cain expression significantly increased in the ALD group compared with the control group; however, the plasma level of NPY decreased in the ALD group (P < 0.05). The BP, LVW/BW, HW/BW, and Cain expression significantly decreased in the spironolactone and CsA groups compared with the ALD group; the plasma levels of NPY increased in the spironolactone and CsA groups (P < 0.05). ALD induced cardiac hypertrophy was possibly involved in calcineurin (CaN). Cain expression was related to CaN activity. Spironolactone blocked the signal transduction of cardiac hypertrophy by a CaN-dependent manner. Furthermore, ALD negatively regulated NPY secretion.