Reversal of cardiac fibrosis in deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt hypertensive rats by inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system.

Fibrosis impairs cardiac function. This project has determined the expression and deposition of collagens and fibronectin and cardiac function in the deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rat after inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system. DOCA-salt hypertension was induced in 8-wk-old male Wistar rats by uninephrectomy and administration of DOCA (25 mg every fourth day, subcutaneously) and 1% NaCl in the drinking water for 4 wk. Starting 2 wk after surgery, rats were given either oral captopril (100 mg/kg), oral candesartan cilexetil (2 mg/kg), or subcutaneous spironolactone (50 mg/kg) daily for 2 wk (reversal protocol). DOCA-salt rats failed to gain weight with markedly increased water intake and decreased food intake; drug treatment did not alter these parameters. Systolic BP increased from 116+/-5 mmHg in uninephrectomized rats to 179+/-7 mmHg in DOCA-salt rats and was not decreased by treatment (captopril 172+/-1 mmHg; candesartan 187+/-2 mmHg; spironolactone 178+/-3 mmHg). Captopril, candesartan, and spironolactone reversed the increased collagen I mRNA in DOCA-salt rats; only candesartan reversed the increased collagen III mRNA. Collagen IV mRNA was unchanged in DOCA-salt rats and following treatment. Total fibronectin mRNA increased without changing the proportion of fibronectin mRNA as the fetal isoforms EIIIA and EIIIB. Captopril, candesartan, and spironolactone reversed the increased deposition of perivascular and interstitial collagen in DOCA-salt rats; the increased cardiac fibronectin deposition was reversed by candesartan and spironolactone. Captopril, candesartan, and spironolactone also attenuated or reversed the increased diastolic stiffness and the increased dP/dt but not the increased rate-pressure products in DOCA-salt rat hearts. Thus, inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system reverses cardiac fibrosis in DOCA-salt rats and returns some indices of myocardial function to normal.