Variable number tandem repeats in the promoter region of prostacyclin synthase gene in choline deficient rats.

Weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on a choline-deficient diet with hydrogenated vegetable oil and corn oil as lipids develop acute renal failure. Pathogenesis of the latter is controversial and an ischemic mechanism has been proposed. Arachidonic acid derivatives are involved in the regulation of vascular tonus. Vasospasm could be due to an increase in tromboxane A2-mediated vasoconstriction or to a decrease in prostacyclin-induced vasodilatation. Enzymes involved in the synthesis of both compounds are tromboxane A2- and prostacyclin-synthase respectively. The aim of this study was to identify the variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) in the promoter region of prostacyclin synthase gene and verify if there exists a relationship between the occurrence of VNTR in those choline-deficient rats which die because of acute renal failure and those which do not. We verified the presence of the VNTR in the prostacyclin synthase rat gene, but we did not find any difference in the molecular weight of the alleles between experimental and control rats. Renal reparation of the acute kidney injury due to choline deficiency in some rats is not related with differences in VNTR in the promoter region of the prostacyclin synthase gene.