[Expression of the proopiomelanocortin gene in the hypophysis of NICAG-line hypertensive rats].

Expression of the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene in NISAG rats with inherited stress-induced arterial hypertension has been investigated by the reverse transcription-competitive PCR method. Normotensive rats of the inbred Wistar albino Glaxo (WAG) strain have been used as control. The effect of 3 h immobilization stress has been examined. The content of POMC mRNA in pituitaries of stressed NISAG rats exceeds that in non-stressed rats of the same strain by a factor of 2.4. Rats of the WAG strain do not demonstrate a significant increase in the level of POMC mRNA. In addition, the basIC transcription level of the POMC gene in NISAG rats is higher than in WAG ones.