[Contrast of losartan, fosinopril and amlodipine on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and left ventricular remolding in hypertensive rats].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate effects of losartan, fosinopril and amlodipine on cardiomyocyte apoptosis, cardiac remolding in the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

METHODS

SHRs were treated with lorsartan (SHR-L), fosinopril (SHR-F), amlodipine (SHR-A), and untreated (SHR-C) respectively for 8 and 16 weeks. Cardiomyocyte apoptotic index (APOI), left ventricular mass, left ventricular mass index (LVM, LVMI), and plasma and myocardium angiotensin II(PAng II, MAng II) concentrations were examined.

RESULTS

1. The systolic blood pressure was decreased similarly in all treatment groups in 8 and 16 weeks. LVMIs were reduced significantly in all treatment groups. LVMI was significantly lower in SHR-F group than that in other two treatment groups in 16 weeks. 2. APOIs were decreased significantly in SHR-F group in 8 weeks and in all treatment groups, especially in SHR-F group in 16 weeks. 3. Compared with SHR-C group in both periods, PAng II and MAng II were significantly increased in SHR-L group, but MAng II concentration was only decreased significantly in SHR-F group in 8 weeks, and in SHR-F and SHR-A groups in 16 weeks.

CONCLUSION

Losartan, amlodipine, and especially fosinopril can inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis, prevent myocardial fibrosis, and reverse heart hypertrophy. Inhibition of myocardium rennin--angiotension--aldsteron system may be the mechanism of the three drugs' cardioprotective effects.