Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can cause blood pressure (BP) elevation in estrogen-deficient, post-menopausal women; however, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, the aortic involvement and its underlying mechanisms that contribute to the BP elevation in estrogen-deficient, RA condition were identified. Ovariectomy was performed to create a state of estrogen deficiency and RA was then induced in ovariectomized rats by using incomplete Freund's adjuvant and immune-mediated collagen type-II. Ovariectomized, RA-induced rats (Ovx + RA) were given either 17β-estradiol, baricitinib, or losartan. Direct blood pressure (BP) monitoring was made via cannulation of the carotid artery. Rats were then sacrificed and the aorta was harvested followed by H&E and Picrosirius staining to evaluate histological changes and collagen deposition. Oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, growth, and fibrosis levels in the aorta were assessed by using molecular biological techniques. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was significantly elevated in Ovx + RA rats when compared to sham and Ovx rats (p
* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.