The angiotensin type 1 receptor antagonist valsartan attenuates pathological ventricular hypertrophy induced by hyperhomocysteinemia in rats.
BACKGROUND
Clinical and experimental studies have reported the role of homocysteine in ventricular hypertrophy. Activation of the renin-angiotensin system mediated by angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor has also been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of ventricular hypertrophy. There are also reports suggesting the affect of angiotensin II (Ang II) on cardiac hypertrophy is mediated by hyperhomocysteinemia. However, there is limited information on the mechanisms of the possible relationship between homocysteine and Ang II in ventricular hypertrophy. In this study we tested the hypothesis that hyperhomocysteinemia induced ventricular hypertrophy and remodelling may be mediated through activation of Ang II AT1-receptors in rats.


METHODS
This study was conducted on control non-treated rats (n=13), methionine-treated rats (1.5 mg/kg/day, n=18) and methionine plus oral AT1 antagonist (valsartan, 30 mg/kg/day, n=13) treated rats for 56 days. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was determined in rats at baseline, 28 and 56 days. Echocardiography was also performed in all rats after eight weeks, and blood samples were obtained for determination of plasma tHcy. Rats were then sacrificed for histopathological and biochemical assessment of cardiac structure.


RESULTS
The SBP in the methionine-treated rats was significantly higher compared with controls and significantly lower compared with the methionine-valsartan group at 28 and 56 days (p<0.001). In addition, left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) in the methionine-valsartan group (4.36+0.11 mm) was significantly lower compared with the methionine group (5.0+0.23 mm, p=0.03). Furthermore, cardiac collagen to total protein ratio was significantly lower in the methionine-valsartan group (2.19+0.11%) compared with the methionine group (2.64+0.08%, p=0.026). Fractional shortening (FS) was not significantly different between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this study suggest that hyperhomocysteinemia-induced hypertension and ventricular hypertrophy in rats are mediated, at least partly; by Ang II activation of AT1-receptors.
Kassab
Salah
S
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. skassab@agu.edu.bh
Garadah
Taysir
T
Abu-Hijleh
Marwan
M
Golbahar
Jamal
J
Senok
Solomon
S
Wazir
Javed
J
Gumaa
Khalid
K
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000502:physiology*; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068756:Valsartan; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000502:physiology
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D013777:Tetrazoles; D006710:Homocysteine; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine