Expression changes of connective tissue growth factor and caspase-3 with age in the myocardial tissue of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Objective: In order to make a dynamic observation on the expression changes of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and caspase-3 with age in the myocardial tissue of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) so as to elucidate their relationship with the pathogenesis and development of hypertensive cardiomyopathy. Methods: By HE staining and immunohistochemistry of cardiac tissues we detected CTGF and caspase-3 expression changes in SHR myocardium of different weeks old. Kyoto species rats of the same age and strain and with normal blood pressure served as controls. Results: In SHR CTGF expression was significantly increased with the increased weeks of age, and a large number of brown substances were found expressed in myocardial interstitial and vascular smooth muscles, with significant differences among the three groups. In SHR group the expression of caspase-3 in myocardial cells was increased with the increased weeks of age, and the number of positive cells showed a trend of significant increase, each week with significant differences among the groups. Conclusion: CTGF and caspase-3 expressions change in rats with different age, blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy, which suggests that CTGF and caspase-3 are involved in the pathogenesis and development of hypertensive cardiomyopathy.