Metabolic syndrome emerges after artificial selection for low baroreflex sensitivity

Aims: It is unclear whether the impaired BRS plays a key role in the incidence of car- diovascular diseases. The molecular mechanism of impaired BRS remains to be fully elucidated. We hypothesized that selection of rats based on deficient and normal intrinsic BRS would yield models that reflect cardiovascular diseases risk. Methods and Results: Twenty generations of selection produced arterial baroreflex low rats and normal rats that differed in BRS by about 2.5- fold change. Metabolic syndrome (including hypertension, overweight, hyperlipemia, and hyperglycemia) emerged in ABR- DRs. Although ABR- DRs consumed less food, they gained signifi- cantly more body weight. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that intrinsic low BRS induced hypertension and metabolic disorder. Restoration of impaired BRS might be a potent target of ther- apeutic intervention in metabolic syndrome.