Preface Despite the availability of a plethora of very effective antihypertensive drugs, the treatment of hypertension remains suboptimal and the prevalence of hypertension is increasing, contributing to the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Reasons for this relate, in part, to a lack of understanding of the exact mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of hypertension, which is complex involving interactions between genes, physiological processes, and environmental factors. To gain insights into this complexity, studies at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular levels are needed to better understand mechanisms responsible for arterial hypertension and associated target organ damage of the vascular system, brain, heart, and kidneys. This book provides a comprehensive compendium of protocols that the hypertension researcher can use to dissect out fundamental principles and molecular mechanisms of hypertension, extending from genetics of experimental hypertension to biomarkers in clinical hypertension. The book is written in a user-friendly way and has been organized into seven sections, comprising (1) Genetics and omics of hypertension; (2) The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system; (3) Vasoactive agents and hypertension; (4) Signal transduction and reactive oxygen species; (5) Novel cell models and approaches to study molecular mechanisms of hypertension; (6) Vascular physiology; and (7) New approaches to manipulate mouse models to study molecular mechanisms of hypertension. The chapters follow the format of the book series on Molecular Methods. Each chapter has a general overview followed by well-described and detailed protocols and includes step- by-step protocols, lists of materials and reagents needed to complete the experiments, and a helpful notes section offering tips and tricks of the trade as well as troubleshooting advice. Many protocol-based books and reviews related to hypertension research are available. Here we have carefully selected some new topics that are evolving in the field of molecular biology of hypertension. We hope these will be useful in advancing the understanding of hypertension at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular levels. Glasgow, Scotland, UK Montreal, QC, Canada
Rhian M. Touyz Ernesto L. Schiffrin
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