Role of blood pressure reduction in prevention of cardiac and vascular hypertrophy.
We investigated whether prevention of cardiac and vascular remodeling associated with inhibition of angiotensin II is independent of the blood pressure (BP)-lowering action of angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blockade. Spontaneously hypertensive rats, 8 weeks old, were treated with olmesartan, atenolol, or vehicle in their drinking water for 56 days. At the end of each treatment, arterial pressure and heart rate were measured, the ratio of heart weight to body weight was calculated, collagen deposition in the heart was determined histochemically using picrosirius red staining, and wall-to-lumen ratio in isolated mesenteric arteries was measured by a videographic approach. At 3 weeks after the initiation of treatment, rats medicated with olmesartan showed lower values of systolic BP compared with rats given atenolol or vehicle, whereas no difference in directly measured BP were observed at the end of study in anesthetized rats given olmesartan or atenolol. Rats given atenolol showed sustained bradycardia, whereas cardiac hypertrophy and collagen deposition was prevented only in spontaneously hypertensive rats given olmesartan. Olmesartan or atenolol reduced arteriolar wall-to-lumen ratio (olmesartan: 11.5+/-0.4%; atenolol: 13.3+/-0.6%; vehicle: 18.4%+/-1.1); however, this effect was greatest in rats medicated with the angiotensin II type 1 antagonist. Although control of BP is a factor in the prevention of cardiac and vascular hypertrophy, our studies suggest that blockade of angiotensin II receptors may attenuate the structural changes in the heart and blood vessels of hypertensive animals independent of a reduction in BP.
Yokoyama
Hiroshi
H
Hypertension and Vascular Disease Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA.
Averill
David B
DB
Brosnihan
K Bridget
KB
Smith
Ronald D
RD
Schiffrin
Ernesto L
EL
Ferrario
Carlos M
CM
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000803:Angiotensin I / Q000097:blood; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000097:blood; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001262:Atenolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000804:Angiotensin II; D001262:Atenolol; C437965:olmesartan; D003094:Collagen; D000803:Angiotensin I