COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF LOSARTAN AND CAPTOPRIL ON VENTRICULAR REMODELING AND FUNCTION AFTER MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN THE RAT

Objective. To determine the effects of losartan and captopril treatment on ventricular remodeling and function after myocardial infarction in rats. Methods. Thirty-two rats with MI induced by coronary ligation after seven days were divided into four groups randomly and treated with captopril(2 g. liter-1, group A), losartan(10 mg. kg-1. d-1, group B), losartan(30 mg. kg-1. d-1,group C) and placebo (no drug, group D) for six weeks, respectively. Shamoperated rats(group E)served as controls. Echocardiography was performed at 1 and 7 weeks after MI, re- spectively. Results. Compared with the results before treatment,both LV end-diastolic internal diameter and volume decreased significantly and the thickened Posterior wall was reversed in group A, B and C; the peak early filling velocity decreased whereas the peak velocity was increased in these three groups. There are no significant difference among the three treated groups. However,LV end-diastolic internal diameter and the E/A were still increased,whereas the thickness of anterior wall and the peak velocity of LV outflow were decreased in group A,B,and C after treatment comparing with group E. Conclusion. Both angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin II receptor antagonist can prevent the ventricular remodeling and improve the ventricular function.

Effects of autoantibodies against AT1-receptor and angiotensin Ⅱ on refractory hypertension

Objective The study will explore effects of the autoantibodies against AT1 receptor and angiotensin Ⅱ on the refractory hypertension. Methods Seventy-seven patients (46 men and 31 women) with essential hypertension were divided into groups of refractory hypertension (RH) and hypertension (HT) according to the 1999 WHO-ISH Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension. Forty normotensives (22 men) were recruited as controls. The mean age was 54. 3±13 years old in RH group, 53. 5±9 years old in HT group and 51. 2±11. 9 years old in normotensives (NT) group. The mean blood pressure was 154. 2±9. 4/98. 4± 8. 2 mmHg in RH group and 130. 1±7. 6/80. 5±6. 7 mmHg in HT group after combination drug therapy of hypertension for 4 weeks. Blood pressure in NT group was 120. 8±11. 7/76. 4 ± 7. 2 mmHg. The epitope of the 2nd extracellular loops of AT1 receptor was synthesized and used as antigens to screen the autoantibodies by ELISA. Plasma angiotensin (Ang) II were examined by a radioimmunoassay. Results The autoantibodies against AT1 receptor were positive in 18 (46. 15 %) patients with RH, in 4 (10. 5 % ) hypertension and in 3 (7. 5 % ) normotensives, P < 0. 01. Ang Ⅱwas 57. 01±52. 63 pmol/L in patients with RH. Both the autoantibodies positive and the Ang Ⅱ increasing were 4 (10. 3 % ) cases, both normal were 7 (17. 9 % ) cases, the autoantibodies positive or Ang II increasing was all of 14 (35. 9 % ) cases (x2 = 0. 09, P>0. 05) . There was no relationship between the autoantibodies against AT1 receptor and the angiotensin Ⅱ in refractory hypertension. Conclusion The autoantibodies against AT1 receptor and Ang Ⅱ might be two independent factors in developing of refractory hypertension. The findings suggest that AT1 receptor an-tagnist used in the treatment of refractory hypertension might have an important value.

Inhibition of integrin-linked kinase by angiotensin II receptor antagonist, irbesartan attenuates podocyte injury in diabetic rats

Background Integrin-linked kinase （ILK） dysregulation is involved in the progression of diabetic nephropathy （DN）. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of angiotensin II receptor blocker （ARB）, irbesartan, on ILK expression and podocyte injury in DN.