Influence of beta-aminopropionitril on media hypertrophy and baroreceptor reflex in normotensive and hypertensive rats
Fischer, M.; Wessler, D.; Henrichs, K.J.; Unger, T.
Journal of Hypertension. Suppl Official Journal of the International Society of Hypertension 4(3): S527-S531
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0952-1178 PMID: 3465914 Document Number: 274081
Experiments were performed to investigate the antihypertensive action of beta-aminopropionitril (BAPN) in normotensive and hypertensive rats and to elucidate the role of media hypertrophy and arterial wall distensibility on baroreceptor reflex and blood pressure (BP) regulation. Normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY), DOCA-salt hypertensive WKY, and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) were treated with BAPN (100 mg/kg per day, intraperitoneally) for 10 weeks. The respective control groups (n = 10 per group) received 0.9% NaC1 instead of BAPN. In BAPN-treated groups the BP of DOCA-salt WKY (145 versus 170 mmHg) and SHRSP (170 versus 208 mmHg) was lower than that of controls at the end of the treatment period. In BAPN-treated rats, the medial cross-sectional area was reduced, postmortem distensibility of vascular wall was greater, and baroreceptor reflex, estimated from heart rate responses to BP changes, showed steeper regression curves. The BAPN-induced BP decrease in the hypertensive rats demonstrates that the level of sensitivity of the baroreceptor reflex is related to the mechanical properties of the arterial wall.