title: Raloxifene reduces blood pressure in hypertensive animals after ovarian hormone deprivation.
abstract: Raloxifene is a selective oestrogen receptor modulator that has been approved for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. Studies have revealed several effects of raloxifene on the cardiovascular system, which might contribute to the blood pressure regulatory mechanisms, particularly in the systemic arterial hypertension. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of raloxifene on the blood pressure, renal excretion of water and Na(+) and plasma nitrite/nitrate levels in 2-kidney-1-clip (2K1C) hypertensive female rats. The groups were as follows: hypertensive (2K1C), hypertensive ovariectomized (2K1C + OVX) and hypertensive ovariectomized treated with raloxifene (2K1C + OVX + R). Seven days after the surgery that produced menopause, 2K1C hypertension was produced in anaesthetized animals. Seven days after the clip application, the rats were put into metabolic cages to allow for the measurement of water ingestion and diuresis, and raloxifene was administered (2 mg/kg/day i.p., for 7 more days). We found a large reduction (p < 0.01) in mean arterial pressure (197 ± 6 to 164 ± 2 mmHg), an increase in renal excretion of sodium and water (p < 0.05) and an increase in plasma levels of nitrite/nitrate in 2K1C + OVX + R animals, when compared with the 2K1C (23.4 ± 1 versus 14 ± 0.5 nmol/mL; p < 0.01, respectively). These findings suggest that raloxifene exerted its antihypertensive effect, at least in part, by improving the renal excretion of sodium and water.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, CEUNES, Federal University of Espirito Santo, São Mateus, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana Nunes
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Sonia Alves
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gouvêa
authors.forename: Washington Luiz Silva
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Walckiria Garcia
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Margareth Ribeiro
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Moyses
authors.forename: Nazaré Souza
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Bissoli
authors.forename: José Guilherme Pinheiro
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Gláucia Rodrigues
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Abreu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004231:Diuresis / Q000187:drug effects; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D010052:Ovariectomy; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride; D012964:Sodium