Minoru Isosaki and Toshikatsu Nakashima
Department of Pharmacology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara
634, Japan
Abstract: Psychological stress without any physical stimuli caused
a rapid and marked increase in the level of heat shock protein (HSP) 70
mRNA in rat aorta, but had little effect on the other tested tissues. The
maximum increase in HSP70 mRNA level in the aorta was observed at 0.5 -
1 hr after the stress, and then it declined. Moreover, this stress also
increased the level of HSP70 protein in the aorta, but had little effect
on the other tested tissues. These results indicate that exposure of rats
to mild psychological stress results in the induction of HSP70, especially
in the blood vessels.
Keywords: Psychological stress, Heat shock protein 70, Aorta