Figure 3.
RBP4-KO mice are partially protected from Ang-II-induced hypertension. RBP4 promotes Ang-II-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Effect of Ang-II treatment on BP (A) and aortic eNOSSer1177 phosphorylation (B) and myocardial hypertrophy (C, D) in male mice. Ang-II (1 mg/kg/d) or saline was infused for 2 wk via subcutaneous minipumps starting at 10–12 wk of age. E) Cardiac retinol and RE contents per gram of tissue were not different between WT and RBP4-KO 5-month-old male mice (n = 7 per group). P = 0.56 for cardiac retinol, P = 0.58 for cardiac RE. F) Effect of RBP4 (50 µg/ml) on Ang-II (1 µM)-induced hypertrophy in H9C2-cardiomyocytes (n = 5–6/group). *P < 0.05 vs. WT, same treatment; †P < 0.05 vs. saline, same genotype; ‡P < 0.05 vs. control; §P < 0.05 vs. Ang-II.