Temporal relationships of treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors on the hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Two groups of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were treated with captopril and enalapril, respectively. Treatment was started at weaning and at 8 months of age. Blood pressure was maintained close to normal in rats treated from weaning and significantly lowered but not to normal levels in rats started on treatment at 8 months. The long-term treated rats did not show significant cardiac enlargement whereas those treated at 8 months had an increase in cardiac size although not to the same level as untreated animals. Treatment with minoxidil and minoxidil plus propranolol similarly lowers blood pressure, but does not reduce myocardial hypertrophy. The data confirm that both the time of onset of treatment as well as the type of drug influence the myocardial complications of hypertension in SHRs. These studies further demonstrate the use of the SHR as a model for clinical pharmacologic studies with antihypertensive agents.