225 IF LEPTIN IS THE CULPRIT, IS ESTROGEN THE ANTAGONIST IN OBESITY ASSOCIATED HYPERTENSION?

Abstract

Obesity increases the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases developing. Our research shows that elevated leptin levels are essential in development of obesity associated hypertension. Obese leptin deficient children have significantly(p<0.01) lower blood pressure(BP) compared to weight and aged matched subjects. Obese male mice fed a high fat diet(HFD) are hypertensive(113.7±1.1mmHg) and tachycardic(577.5±4.8BPM) compared to weight matched leptin deficient(ob/ob:100.7±3.0mmHg,510±7.0BPM) and leptin receptor deficient db/db:103.5±1.7mmHg,519.7±8.0BPM) mice measured via radiotelemetry. The Dorso Medial Hypothalamus(DMH) region in the brain is critical for obesity associated hyperten..