The NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor apocynin improves endothelial NO/superoxide balance and lowers effectively blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats: comparison to calcium channel blockade.
The vascular NAD(P)H oxidase contributes to endothelial dysfunction and high blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat by enhancing superoxide production. We investigated the effects of apocynin, a NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor, on blood pressure and vascular radical and nitric oxide formation in SHR and compared its effects to the calcium channel blocker nifedipine. Apocynin (over four weeks) lowered systolic blood pressure significantly and as effectively as nifedipine. Both apocynin and nifedipine significantly reduced superoxide production. In parallel, vascular nitric oxide production and ecNOS activity was significantly increased by apocynin treatment. Therefore, apocynin may be an effective antihypertensive drug in essential hypertension.
Bäumer
Anselm T
AT
Klinik III für Innere Medizin, Universität zu Köln, Köln, Germany. Anselm.Baeumer@uk-koeln.de
Krüger
Christian A
CA
Falkenberg
Juliane
J
Freyhaus
Henrik Ten
HT
Rösen
Renate
R
Fink
Klaus
K
Rosenkranz
Stephan
S
D000098:Acetophenones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects
D000098:Acetophenones; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C056165:acetovanillone; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; D009543:Nifedipine