title: Protective effect of nicardipine treatment on cerebrovascular microanatomical changes in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: 1. The effect of long-term treatment with the dihydropyridine Ca2+ antagonist, nicardipine, on the morphology of different sized pial arteries was assessed in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) using histological techniques associated with image analysis. 2. In control 20 week old SHR blood pressure values, the thickness of the tunica media, the media-to-lumen ratio and connective tissue content were significantly increased in comparison with reference normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. 3. Treatment for 8 weeks with a daily dose of 3 mg/kg of nicardipine decreased blood pressure values in SHR and significantly reduced the area occupied by the tunica media and the media-to-lumen ratio. This effect was observed primarily in small sized pial arteries and to a lesser extent in medium sized pial arteries. Nicardipine administration was without effect on connective tissue content in the wall of cerebral arteries. 4. These results indicate that treatment with nicardipine reduces blood pressure elevation in SHR and exerts a protective effect on arteries controlling cerebrovascular resistance. The activity of the compound primarily on small sized pial arteries may protect the brain from generalized vasodilation which could cause cerebral hypoperfusion.
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Anatomia Umana, Istituto di Farmacologia, Universita di Camerino, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amenta
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabbatini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002941:Circle of Willis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009529:Nicardipine