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Ruvira S, Rodríguez-Rodríguez P, Ramiro-Cortijo D, Martín-Trueba M, Martín-Cabrejas MA, Arribas SM. Cocoa Shell Extract Reduces Blood Pressure in Aged Hypertensive Rats via the Cardiovascular Upregulation of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase and Nuclear Factor (Erythroid-Derived 2)-like 2 Protein Expression. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1698. [PMID: 37760002 PMCID: PMC10525428 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12091698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cocoa shell is a by-product of cocoa manufacturing. We obtained an aqueous extract (CSE) rich in polyphenols and methylxanthines with antioxidant and vasodilatory properties. We aimed to evaluate the effects of CSE supplementation in aged hypertensive rats on blood pressure and the mechanism implicated. Eighteen-month-old male and female rats exposed to undernutrition during the fetal period who developed hypertension, with a milder form in females, were used (MUN rats). Systolic blood pressure (SBP; tail-cuff plethysmography) and a blood sample were obtained before (basal) and after CSE supplementation (250 mg/kg; 2 weeks, 5 days/week). Plasma SOD, catalase activity, GSH, carbonyls, and lipid peroxidation were assessed (spectrophotometry). In hearts and aortas from supplemented and non-supplemented age-matched rats, we evaluated the protein expression of SOD-2, catalase, HO-1, UCP-2, total and phosphorylated Nrf2 and e-NOS (Western blot), and aorta media thickness (confocal microscopy). MUN males had higher SBP compared with females, which was reduced via CSE supplementation with a significant difference for group, sex, and interaction effect. After supplementation with plasma, GSH, but not catalase or SOD, was elevated in males and females. Compared with non-supplemented rats, CSE-supplemented males and females exhibited increased aorta e-NOS and Nrf2 protein expression and cardiac phosphorylated-Nrf2, without changes in SOD-2, catalase, HO-1, or UCP-2 in cardiovascular tissues or aorta remodeling. In conclusion, CSE supplementation induces antihypertensive actions related to the upregulation of e-NOS and Nrf2 expression and GSH elevation and a possible direct antioxidant effect of CSE bioactive components. Two weeks of supplementation may be insufficient to increase antioxidant enzyme expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Ruvira
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Arbobispo Morcillo 2, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Food, Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Health (FOSCH) Research Group, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Ph.D. Program in Pharmacology and Physiology, Doctoral School, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Francisco Tomás y Valiente 2, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Rodríguez-Rodríguez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Arbobispo Morcillo 2, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Food, Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Health (FOSCH) Research Group, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - David Ramiro-Cortijo
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Arbobispo Morcillo 2, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Food, Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Health (FOSCH) Research Group, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Martín-Trueba
- Food, Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Health (FOSCH) Research Group, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Food Science Research (CIAL), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM-CSIC), C/Nicolás Cabrera 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Food Science, Faculty of Science, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - María A. Martín-Cabrejas
- Food, Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Health (FOSCH) Research Group, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Food Science Research (CIAL), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM-CSIC), C/Nicolás Cabrera 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Food Science, Faculty of Science, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia M. Arribas
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Arbobispo Morcillo 2, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Food, Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Health (FOSCH) Research Group, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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Lu JLA, Jamhour M, Rizzo G. Is a fetal epicardial fat thickness a proxy of cardiac function? J Clin Ultrasound 2023; 51:981-982. [PMID: 37204923 DOI: 10.1002/jcu.23490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jia Li Angela Lu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata Roma, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Meriem Jamhour
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata Roma, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Rizzo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata Roma, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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