An alternative approach to hypertension: Deciphering mechanisms in a postmenopausal mouse model
Description
Curcumin, an extract obtained from turmeric with anti-inflammatory properties, has been shown to reduce systolic blood pressure. Preliminary studies from our laboratory demonstrate that curcumin decreases blood pressure in obese, estrogen-deficient mice. This project aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which curcumin mediates this effect. We hypothesized that curcumin lowers systolic blood pressure in estrogen-deficient obese mice through mechanisms like those used by estrogen. Western blot analysis was conducted on hypothalamic tissue from obese, estrogen-deficient mice maintained on a 60% high-fat diet. Following the induction of obesity, animals were administered either piperine alone (control group) or a combination of piperine and curcumin (treatment group) for a duration of 30 days. The analysis aimed to assess changes in the phosphorylation status of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (pMDAR). Phosphorylation of these receptors would suggest that curcumin may modulate either glutamatergic or GABAergic pathways to influence blood pressure regulation. Our results indicate that estrogen-deficient obese mice fed curcumin exhibited decreased expression of pMDAR compared to control mice fed piperine. Values were obtained via Western blot and normalized to β-actin. Taken together, these findings suggest that curcumin can mimic the actions of estrogen and provide promising evidence that curcumin may lower blood pressure, in part, by targeting central nervous system pathways. These findings may offer potential therapeutic benefit for postmenopausal women, a population at substantial risk for hypertension.
Citation Information
Katz, Caitlin; Crowl, Kallie; and Barnes, Maria, "An alternative approach to hypertension: Deciphering mechanisms in a postmenopausal mouse model" (2026). Office of Research DMU Research Symposium. 35.
https://digitalcommons.dmu.edu/researchsymposium/2025rs/2025abstracts/35
An alternative approach to hypertension: Deciphering mechanisms in a postmenopausal mouse model
Curcumin, an extract obtained from turmeric with anti-inflammatory properties, has been shown to reduce systolic blood pressure. Preliminary studies from our laboratory demonstrate that curcumin decreases blood pressure in obese, estrogen-deficient mice. This project aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which curcumin mediates this effect. We hypothesized that curcumin lowers systolic blood pressure in estrogen-deficient obese mice through mechanisms like those used by estrogen. Western blot analysis was conducted on hypothalamic tissue from obese, estrogen-deficient mice maintained on a 60% high-fat diet. Following the induction of obesity, animals were administered either piperine alone (control group) or a combination of piperine and curcumin (treatment group) for a duration of 30 days. The analysis aimed to assess changes in the phosphorylation status of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (pMDAR). Phosphorylation of these receptors would suggest that curcumin may modulate either glutamatergic or GABAergic pathways to influence blood pressure regulation. Our results indicate that estrogen-deficient obese mice fed curcumin exhibited decreased expression of pMDAR compared to control mice fed piperine. Values were obtained via Western blot and normalized to β-actin. Taken together, these findings suggest that curcumin can mimic the actions of estrogen and provide promising evidence that curcumin may lower blood pressure, in part, by targeting central nervous system pathways. These findings may offer potential therapeutic benefit for postmenopausal women, a population at substantial risk for hypertension.
