HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 293/3/H1351    most recent 00393.2007v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Basso, N. Articles by Inserra, F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Basso, N. Articles by Inserra, F.

CALL FOR PAPERS
Cardiovascular Aging

Protective effect of long-term angiotensin II inhibition

Institute of Cardiologic Research, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Submitted 29 March 2007 ; accepted in final form 4 June 2007

Experimental studies indicate that angiotensin II (ANG II) through its type 1 receptor (AT₁) promotes cardiovascular hypertrophy and fibrosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze whether chronic long-term inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) can prevent most of the deleterious effects due to aging in the cardiovascular system of the normal rat. The main objective was to compare two strategies of ANG II blockade: a converting enzyme inhibitor (CEI) and an AT₁ receptor blocker (AT₁RB). A control group remained untreated; treatment was initiated 2 wk after weaning. A CEI, enalapril (10 mg·kg^–1·day^–1), or an AT₁RB, losartan (30 mg·kg^–1·day^–1), was used to inhibit the RAS. Systolic blood pressure, body weight, and water and food intake were recorded over the whole experimental period. Heart, aorta, and mesenteric artery weight as well as histological analysis of cardiovascular structure were performed at 6 and 18 mo. Twenty animals in each of the three experimental groups were allowed to die spontaneously. The results demonstrated a significant protective effect on the function and structure of the cardiovascular system in all treated animals. Changes observed at 18 mo of age in the hearts and aortas were quite significant, but each treatment completely abolished this deterioration. The similarity between the results detected with either enalapril or losartan treatment clearly indicates that most of the effects are exerted through AT₁ receptors. An outstanding finding was the significant and similar prolongation of life span in both groups of treated animals compared with untreated control animals.

losartan; enalapril; heart; aorta; life span