title: Vasodilator effects of fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, on retinal arterioles in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the vasodilator effect of fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, on retinal arterioles in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSPs) and in age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats (12-14 weeks-old) were anesthetized with thiobutabarbital (120 mg/kg, intraperitoneal). Fundus images were captured with a digital camera that was equipped with a special objective lens. The vasodilator responses of retinal arterioles were assessed by measuring changes in the diameters of the vessels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline diameter of the retinal arteriole was significantly smaller in SHRSPs than in WKYs. Fasudil (50-200 microg/kg/min, intravenous) dose-dependently increased the diameter of the retinal arteriole and decreased the systemic blood pressure in both groups. The vasodilator effect of fasudil on the retinal arteriole in SHRSPs was greater than in WKYs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that fasudil has beneficial effects on retinal vascular complications associated with chronic hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Nami
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Asami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Sokichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kametaka
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishii
mesh_terms: D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010781:Photography; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; C049347:fasudil