Vascular Function and Blood Pressure in GH Transgenic Mice

Acromegaly is associated with cardiovascular disease. We studied vascular function and mean arterial blood pressure in transgenic mice overexpressing bovine GH. Mean arterial blood pressure was measured in conscious, unrestrained male and female bovine GH and littermate control mice during normal as well as high salt intake using telemetric devices. Structure in artificially perfused maximally dilated hindquarter vascular beds and vascular reactivity and endothelial function in small mesenteric vessels were studied in female bovine GH and control mice. Mean arterial blood pressure was increased in female bovine GH transgenic (126 ± 3 mm Hg) and male bovine GH transgenic (129 ± 4 mm Hg) compared with female (109 ± 3 mm Hg, P < 0.05) and male (111 ± 3 mm Hg, P < 0.05) controls respectively. Increased salt intake had no effect on mean arterial blood pressure. Perfusion studies showed a significant decrease in the average diameter of the female bovine GH transgenic hindquarter vascular bed (P < 0.05). The res...