The Expression Levels of Klotho, Endothelial Nitrite Oxide Synthetase and Catalase Genes of the Heart Tissues of Young and Old Rats

Objectives: In order to evaluate the role of genes in aging process in the heart of rats, the expression levels of Klotho (KL), Endothelial nitrite oxide synthase (e-NOS) and Catalase (CAT) genes, which are thought to be important in the metabolism, were investigated in the present study. Materials and Methods: The expression levels of these genes were compared in heart tissues of 24-month-old and 6-month-old male Wistar rats using real time polymerase chain reaction method. Results: The mRNA level of e-NOS gene was increased significantly in the left side of the hearts of old rats, it was also increased in the right side of the heart, but it was not statistically significant. The mRNA level of CAT gene was decreased significantly in only the left side of the old rat heart compared to that of the young rat. Furthermore, our data on mRNA level of CAT gene determined in the right part of the heart were increased in that of old rats compared to those of the young rats. However, the expression level of KL gene was not significantly different in the left part of the hearts in either old rats or young rats, whereas the expression level of this gene was increased significantly in the right side of the old rat heart compared to that of young rat heart. Conclusion: KL, e-NOS and CAT expressions were thought to be effective in the heart tissue of rats in aging process. Further detailed studies that should be designed on this subject could play important role in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in which the occurrence risk is increased by the aging process.