1998 Volume 21 Issue 4 Pages 251-257
We investigated the ability of the ETA receptor antagonist T-0115 and the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor imidapril hydrochloride to prevent hypertensive complications induced in rats by chronic inhibition of nitric oxide (NO). Male Wistar rats were given distilled water (control), NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) 500mg/l, or L-NAME plus imidapril 10mg/l in the drinking water. In rats treated with L-NAME 500mg/l plus T-0115, T-0115 was given in the food at a dose of 0.2mg/g food or 0.6mg/g food. We then collected 24-h urine samples at 2, 4, and 6wk, obtained blood samples at 6wk, and histologically examined the kidney and heart. L-NAME markedly reduced the levels of NO metabolites in serum and urine while increasing the tail-cuff blood pressure, the urinary albumin level (1.90±0.65 vs. 0.05±0.02mg/d/100g in control), and the area of the left ventricular wall (83.3±3.0 vs. 69.8±1.8mm2 in control). The plasma renin activity was significantly higher in rats treated with L-NAME than in the control rats. The concomitant administration of T-0115 0.6mg/g food with L-NAME ameliorated the tail-cuff pressure and the albuminuria (0.56±0.23mg/d/100g), although to a lesser extent than the changes seen with imidapril 10mg/l. T-0115 0.6mg/g food prevented left ventricular hypertrophy as effectively as imidapril 10mg/l(70.8±1.8 with T-0115 vs. 68.3±2.7mm2 with imidapril). Chronic inhibition of NO synthesis produced left ventricular hypertrophy and nephrosclerosis. Our results demonstrate that inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system morely effectively prevents nephrosclerosis than does the blockade of ETA receptors in a model of hypertension induced by chronic NO blockade. However, inhibition of the ET-1 pathway appeared to be as effective as ACE inhibitors in preventing left ventricular hypertrophy in this model. (Hypertens Res 1998; 21:251-257)
