title: Comparative effects of the dual ACE-NEP inhibitor MDL-100,240 and ramipril on hypertension and cardiovascular disease in endogenous angiotensin II-dependent hypertension.
abstract: We investigated the effects of MDL-100,240 in a transgenic rat model (TGRen2) of hypertension with severe cardiovascular damage (CVD) due to enhanced tissue synthesis of angiotensin II (Ang II). Male heterozygous TGRen2 rats (5 weeks old) were allocated to receive MDL-100,240, ramipril (RAM) or placebo (PLAC) for 4 weeks, during which blood pressure (BP) was measured. We then evaluated: 1) left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV), brain, kidney and adrenals weight; 2) structural changes in the aorta and the mesenteric arterioles wall; 3) tension responses of segments of the aorta to phenylephrine, KCl, and endothelin-1; and 4) creatinine, aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and cyclic GMP (cGMP) plasma levels. Compared to PLAC, both MDL-100,240 and RAM significantly (P < .001) lowered BP (after 4 weeks: 255 +/- 15 mm Hg PLAC, v 174 +/- 6 MDL-100,240, v 166 +/- 5 RAM). They hindered LV hypertrophy (3.73 +/- 0.25 mg/g body weight (PLAC) v 2.71 +/- 0.22 (MDL-100,240) P < .001; v 2.36 +/- 0.2 (RAM), P < .001). MDL-100,240 also prevented aortic dilatation and hypertrophy of the mesenteric arterioles (media thickness, 25.3 +/- 0.5 microm PLAC, v 21.1 +/- 0.9 MDL-100,240, P < .007; v 20.2 +/- 1.5 RAM, P = .033) and lowered the tension responses to phenylephrine (P < .01), KCl (P < .01), and endothelin-1 (P < .001). Plasma aldosterone (710 +/- 153 pmol/L PLAC, v 237 +/- 61 MDL-100,240, v 180 +/- 22 RAM) and creatinine levels (0.69 +/- 0.33 mg/dL PLAC, v 0.41 +/- 0.02 MDL-100,240, v 0.41 +/- 0.04 RAM) were also decreased (P < or = .001). Compared to PLAC, plasma ANP levels were 11% and 2.4% higher in MDL-100,240 and RAM, respectively (both P = not significant); cGMP levels were unaffected. Thus, severe hypertension and related CVD were regressed by MDL-100,240, which resulted to be as effective as a full dosage of ramipril in TGRen2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine--Clinica Medica 4, University of Padova, University Hospital, Italy. gianpaolo.rossi@unipd.it
authors.forename: Gian Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bova
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sacchetto
authors.forename: Damiano
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rizzoni
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agabiti-Rosei
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Gastone G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Nussdorfer
authors.forename: Achille C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pessina
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000378:metabolism; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D015260:Neprilysin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017257:Ramipril / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D001552:Benzazepines; D011725:Pyridines; D000804:Angiotensin II; C085683:MDL 100240; D015260:Neprilysin; D017257:Ramipril