title: Lacidipine: prevention of vascular damage induced by hypertension.
abstract: Lacidipine is a long-lasting 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium antagonist that has been reported to protect salt-loaded Dahl-S rats from vascular damage and accelerated mortality when it is administered prophylactically at 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg p.o. once a day (equivalent to the recommended dose in humans). The aim of this study was to investigate the vasoprotective properties of lacidipine in Dahl-S rats that had already developed sustained hypertension after 4 weeks of a salt-rich diet. Although none of the dosages of lacidipine (0.3, 1, and 3 mg/kg) reduced the elevated values of blood pressure, an almost complete protection from mortality was obtained. Moreover, lacidipine dose-dependently inhibited the development of macroscopic and microscopic alterations in the distal branches of mesenteric arteries and in the brain. A clear regression of vascular damage and cardiac hypertrophy was observed at the highest dose tested (3 mg/kg). These findings further support the assumption that the protective properties of lacidipine are not restricted to a reduction in blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: Glaxo Research Laboratories, Glaxo SpA, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gaviraghi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Micheli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terron
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cristofori
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004095:Dihydropyridines; C060285:lacidipine