Sucrose induces cardiac hypertrophy and renal perivascular fibrosis in a novel mouse model of hypertension
Yuka Terada, Yuki Nakayama, Youjie Zhang, Busra Cetinkaya-Un, Katherine J Elliott, Tomoki Hashimoto, Adebowale Adebiyi, Patrick Osei-Owusu, Satoru EguchiAbstract
Background
Excess sugar consumption increases the risk of hypertension. We previously reported pilot data demonstrating that male mice drinking 2% sucrose water develop hypertension. However, the sucrose effects on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), kidney fibrosis, or sex difference in hypertension remain unclear. In the present study, we characterized the cardiac and renal pathology in a larger cohort including female mice to establish a novel sucrose-induced mouse model of hypertension associated with cardiovascular remodeling.
Methods
Eight- to nine-week-old C57BL/6J mice were given drinking water containing 2% sucrose or regular water for 4 weeks. BP was monitored using a tail-cuff system. Echocardiography was performed to evaluate cardiac remodeling. Sirius red staining was performed to evaluate heart and kidney fibrosis.
Results
Male mice drinking the sucrose water developed hypertension (SBP 122.0 ± 1.3 mm Hg vs 162.2 ± 4.3 mm Hg at day 28). Sucrose treatment increased left ventricular wall thickness and induced perivascular fibrosis of the heart and kidney compared to control mice. Cardiac functions were preserved. In female mice, sucrose treatment induced milder hypertension than in male mice (126.9 ± 2.4 mm Hg vs 143.7 ± 3.2 mm Hg at day 28). However, sucrose treatment caused a similar degree of LVH in female mice.
Conclusion
Sucrose water induced hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, and fibrosis of the heart and kidney in male mice. Female mice were partially protected from hypertension but not from cardiac hypertrophy. This mouse model represents a useful tool to investigate molecular mechanisms by which hypertension and end organ damage develop with excess sugar consumption.