title: Differential effects of losartan and candesartan on vasoconstrictor responses in the rat.
abstract: Losartan has been reported to have inhibitory effects on thromboxane (TP) receptor-mediated responses. In the present study, the effects of 2 nonpeptide angiotensin II (AT1) receptor antagonists, losartan and candesartan, on responses to angiotensin II, the thromboxane A2 mimic, U46619, and norepinephrine were investigated and compared in the pulmonary and systemic vascular beds of the intact-chest rat. In this study, intravenous injections of angiotensin II, U46619, and norepinephrine produced dose-related increases in pulmonary and systemic arterial pressure. Losartan and candesartan, in the doses studied, decreased or abolished responses to angiotensin II. Losartan, but not candesartan, and only in a higher dose, produced small, but statistically significant, reductions in pressor responses to U46619 and to norepinephrine in the pulmonary and systemic vascular beds. Furthermore, losartan significantly reduced arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation, whereas candesartan had no effect. Pressor responses to angiotensin II were not changed by thromboxane and alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonists, or by cyclooxygenase and NO synthase inhibitors. These results show that losartan and candesartan are potent selective AT1 receptor antagonists in the pulmonary and systemic vascular beds and that losartan can attenuate thromboxane and alpha-adrenergic responses when administered at a high dose, whereas candesartan in the highest dose studied had no effect on responses to U46619 or to norepinephrine. The present data show that the effects of losartan and candesartan on vasoconstrictor responses are different and that pulmonary and systemic pressor responses to angiotensin II are not modulated or mediated by the release of cyclooxygenase products, activation of TP receptors, or the release of NO in the anesthetized rat.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University Medical Center, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Bobby D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Nossaman
authors.forename: Syed R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Baber
authors.forename: Mohammed M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nazim
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Detrolio
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kadowitz
mesh_terms: D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019808:Losartan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008469:Meclofenamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D013777:Tetrazoles; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D000804:Angiotensin II; D008469:Meclofenamic Acid; D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019808:Losartan; C081643:candesartan; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009638:Norepinephrine