Angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonism improves endothelial vasodilator function in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats by a kinin-dependent mechanism.

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to investigate the ability of a chronic blockade of angiotensin II type 1 receptors with losartan to reverse the endothelial dysfunction present in N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-treated hypertensive rats and the possible dependence of this effect on bradykinin B2-receptor activation.

METHODS

Rats treated with L-NAME alone (60 mg/kg per day for 8 weeks) or with L-NAME + losartan, L-NAME + icatibant (a bradykinin B2-receptor antagonist) and L-NAME + losartan + icatibant were studied. Losartan, icatibant or losartan + icatibant were co-administered with L-NAME during the last 4 weeks of the experiment. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene expression in aortic tissues, plasma nitrite/nitrate concentrations, the relaxant effect of acetylcholine on norepinephrine-precontracted aortic rings and 6-keto-PGF1alpha release from aortic rings were used as markers of the endothelial function.

RESULTS

Rats treated with L-NAME alone and L-NAME + icatibant showed, as compared with untreated animals, a clear-cut increase in systolic blood pressure and a decrease of all the markers of endothelial function evaluated. In L-NAME-rats, administration of losartan reduced the systolic blood pressure and restored endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene expression, plasma nitrite/nitrate levels, the relaxant activity of acetylcholine on aortic rings and the generation of 6-keto-PGF1alpha from the aortic tissues. Co-administration of icatibant with losartan blunted the stimulatory effect of losartan on the markers of endothelial function evaluated.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrated that losartan is capable of reversing the endothelial vasodilator dysfunction in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats, and that the beneficial effect of losartan is mediated by bradykinin B2-receptor activation.