Vasodilator effects of fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, on retinal arterioles in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.
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.
Okamura
Nami
N
Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
Saito
Maki
M
Mori
Asami
A
Sakamoto
Kenji
K
Kametaka
Sokichi
S
Nakahara
Tsutomu
T
Ishii
Kunio
K
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
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