Effect of captopril on expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins in capillary endothelial cells inside heart and brain of spontaneous hypertension rat model

Objective To study the effect of the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins in the capillary endothelial cells inside the heart and brain of spontaneous hypertension rat model(SHR) through pre treatment with captopril,and to analyze the relationship with the reversal of the capillary rarefaction.Methods The immunohistochemistry-PV staining and computed image analysis system were used.The heart and brain sections of control SHR(5 months old,n=14),SHR(5 months old,n=14) on captopril for three months,and control normal Wistar-Kyoto rats(WKR)(5 months old,n=14) were stained and quantitatively analyzed.Results ①The expression of Bax in capillary endothelial cells of heart and brain in control SHR was significantly increased,compared with that of SHR on captopril and WKR.(P0.01).②Expression of Bcl-2 was increased in control SHRs' brain and heart,compared with that of WKR,but less than SHR on captopril(P0.01).③Immunohistochemical quantification of Bax and Bcl-2 showed higher Bax and lower Bcl-2 expression,which accordingly increased the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 of control SHR,compared with that of captopril treated SHR and WKR(P0.01).Compared with the WKR,the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 was not significant in SHR on captopril(P0.05).Conclusions After treatment with captopril,the expression of higher Bax and lower Bcl-2 proteins of SHR were reversed.It may be a mechanism of captopril to reverse the microvascular rarefaction of SHR by influencing the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins.