Antihypertensive effect of repeated oral administration of MK-0521 in 2-kidney Goldblatt hypertensive dogs

MK-0521 and captopril were orally administered to acute (6 to 8 days after unilateral renal artery constriction) and chronic (2 to 2.5 months after the constriction) 2-kidney Goldblatt hypertensive dogs for 7 to 21 days. MK-0521 lowered the blood pressure to similar extents in the acute and chronic stages of hypertension. The antihypertensive effect of MK-0521 was dose-dependent and persistent even after its cessation. Captopril also produced an antihypertensive effect, although the effect in the chronic stage of hypertension was less prominent than that in the acute stage of hypertension. MK-0521 was more inhibitory on the renin-angiotensin system than captopril. In the acute stage of hypertension, the dogs treated with MK-0521 had increased angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity, while they had decreased plasma angiotensin II level and elevated plasma angiotensin I level and plasma renin activity. These results clarified the inhibitory effect of MK-0521 on ACE. In contrast, in the chronic stage of hypertension, MK-0521 showed no depression of plasma angiotensin II. There were no significant changes in daily urinary volume, and renal clearances of sodium, potassium and creatinine. These results suggest that the major mechanism of the antihypertensive effect of MK-0521 in 2-kidney Goldblatt hypertensive dogs is an inhibition of the ACE. In addition, the different effects in the acute and chronic hypertensive dogs suggest that some differences exist in the mechanisms of maintaining blood pressure between the two stages of 2-kidney Goldblatt hypertensive dogs.     

Effects of single and repeated oral administration of MK-421 and captopril on blood pressures in normotensive and experimental hypertensive rats

In the single dose study, the aortic blood pressure in conscious normotensive rats, 2-kidney, 1-clip renal hypertensive rats (2K-RHR), 1-kidney, 1-clip renal hypertensive rats (1K-RHR) or DOCA hypertensive rats was measured for 24 hr after the oral administration of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as MK-421 or captopril. MK-421 at 3 mg/kg and captopril at 10 mg/kg markedly lowered the blood pressure of 2K-RHR. MK-421 at 10 mg/kg and captopril at 30 mg/kg only modestly lowered the blood pressure of 1K-RHR. In contrast, both ACE inhibitors failed to reduce blood pressure in DOCA and normotensive rats. In the repeated dose study, the systolic blood pressures in normotensive rats, 2K-RHR or spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were measured twice a week for 3 weeks treatment of either MK-421 at 3 mg/kg or captopril at 10 mg/kg. Both ACE inhibitors produced significant antihypertensive effects in these model rats, and the effects were sustained throughout the treatment period. The antihypertensive effects in 2K-RHR were greater than those in SHR and normotensive rats. These results indicate that MK-421 and captopril cause the most significant antihypertensive effect in 2K-RHR in which the renin-angiotensin system played a dominant role in blood pressure regulation. The antihypertensive effect of MK-421 was approximately 3 times as potent as that of captopril in these hypertensive models.     

Dissociation of the effect of captopril on blood pressure and angiotensin converting enzyme in serum and lungs of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) of the Okamoto-Aoki strain (n = 40) were treated with captopril (SQ 14,225; D-3-mercapto-2-methylpropanoyl-L-proline) orally, dose 0.2 mg/ml in drinking water. The treatment was initiated early and later during the course of developing hypertension. Continuously treated rats did not develop hypertension. Rats receiving captopril for 12 weeks remained normotensive, whereas withdrawal of the drug resulted in hypertension. Captopril treatment was effective in the rats with established hypertension and decreased the blood pressures to nearly normal values. Serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity rose 3-fold in captopril treated rats. ACE in lung plasma membranes increased during captopril treatment, indicating that captopril induced biosynthesis of pulmonary ACE. No qualitative differences were found in the ACE from treated and not treated animals. The dissociation of the antihypertensive effect of captopril and of increased ACE activity in serum and lungs reduce the value of relating blood pressure effects of the drug to measured enzyme activity in the SHR.     

Reduction of the antihypertensive effect of captopril induced by prostaglandin synthetase inhibition

The effects of prostaglandin synthetase inhibition by indomethacin on blood pressure and hormonal variations induced by captopril were studied in eight patients with essential hypertension and in six nonhypertensive subjects. Captopril antihypertensive effect and captopril-induced plasma renin increase were almost totally abolished by a short-term administration of indomethacin (50 mg t.i.d.). These results support the hypothesis that prostaglandins contribute to the antihypertensive effects of ACE inhibitors. It may be of clinical importance that anti-inflammatory drugs that inhibit PG-synthetase can also blunt the antihypertensive action of ACE inhibitors.     

Effects of two structurally different angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, captopril and quinapril (CI-906), in rats with one-kidney deoxycorticosterone-salt hypertension

Possible non-renin antihypertensive actions of two angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, the sulfhydryl compound captopril and the new nonsulfhydryl inhibitor quinapril (CI-906), were compared in rats with one-kidney deoxycorticosterone-salt hypertension. Plasma renin activity remained low during the 12-day treatments and showed very strong suppression of the renin-angiotensin system. Quinapril did not influence the rapidly increasing blood pressure. Although captopril tended to reduce the development of hypertension (p = 0.08), it did not have any significant effect, either. The results indicate that these ACE inhibitors with different chemical structures lack any significant blood pressure lowering mechanism in severe deoxycorticosterone-salt hypertension, a model in which they cannot act through their established antihypertensive mechanism, the inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system.     

Effects of chronic treatment with captopril (SQ 14,225), an orally active inhibitor of angiotensin I-converting enzyme, in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effects of hydralazine (3 mg/kg) and the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor captopril (SQ 14,225) (100 mg/kg) on mean arterial blood pressure, plasma renin activity, urinary volume and urinary Na+,K+, and aldosterone concentrations were examined in spontaneously hypertensive rats of the Okamoto and Aoki strain (SHR) after oral daily dosing for 2 weeks, 3 or 6 months. Captopril caused progressive cumulative reductions in blood pressure resulting in normalization of pressure after 6 months of dosing. Hydralazine also significantly reduced blood pressure but not to the level of normotensive rats of the Wistar-Kyoto strain (WKY). Reductions in heart size paralleled the changes in blood pressure, normalization of cardiac hypertrophy occurring after captopril but not hydralazine. Plasma renin activity increased approximately 2-3 fold after hydralazine and 15-fold after captopril. Neither hydralazine nor captopril had any consistent effects on 24-hr urine volume, urinary Na+,K+ or aldosterone excretion. These results indicate that chronic inhibition of ACE with captopril induces normalization of blood pressure in SHR, a normal-renin model of hypertension.     

Correlation between the inhibition of renin-angiotensin system and antihypertensive effect of MK-421 and captopril in 2-kidney, 1-clip renal hypertensive rats after single and repeated oral administration of MK-421 or captopril

The angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity in tissues and plasma renin activity (PRA) were measured in 2-kidney, 1-clip renal hypertensive rats (2K-RHR) and normotensive rats after a single and 3-weeks oral administrations of ACE inhibitors such as MK-421 and captopril. In the single dose study, MK-421 (1 and 3 mg/kg) and captopril (3 and 10 mg/kg) inhibited the ACE activities in kidney, aorta and plasma in a dose-dependent fashion. The inhibition of ACE activity in kidney or aorta was observed for a longer time than that in plasma. PRA took a time course reversal to that of plasma ACE activity. In the 3-weeks repeated dose study, the ACE activity in kidney and aorta was strongly inhibited after the administration of each ACE inhibitor, while there was no significant change in lung ACE activity at any time point examined. The plasma ACE activity markedly elevated after the administration of each agent. PRA significantly increased after the administration of either agent, while the plasma angiotensin II level was significantly inhibited. These results indicate that the inhibition of the ACE activity in blood vessel or kidney correlate well with the antihypertensive activity in 2K-RHR after a single and repeated administration of both ACE inhibitors, but not well with the inhibition of plasma ACE activity.     

Chronic antihypertensive effects of captopril (SQ 14,225), an orally active angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor, in conscious 2-kidney renal hypertensive rats.

Indirect systolic blood pressure (SBP) was monitored in 9 groups of 15 male conscious 2-kidney renal hypertensive rats (RHR) for over 6 months. Daily oral dosing with captopril (SQ 14,225, D-3-mercapto-2-methylpropanoyl-L-proline, 30 mg/kg), an orally active angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor, lowered SBP 30--50 MM Hg during this period. Withdrawal of captopril for 5 days at 1, 3 and 6 months resulted in gradual return of SBP to control levels without overshoot. Resumption of dosage with captopril again decreased SBP. Daily oral dosing with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, 6 mg/kg/day) alone for 6 months had little or no effect on SBP, but increased the antihypertensive effect of captopril. Daily oral dosing with hydralazine (6 mg/kg) caused an initial marked antihypertensive effect greater than that of captopril but almost complete tolerance developed within 4 weeks of dosing. Highest survival rates occurred in RHR treated with captopril plus HCTZ. In four other similarly treated groups of RHR and normotensive rats (NR), least cardiac hypertrophy and highest plasma renin activity occurred in captopril-treated animals compared with vehicle-treated controls. Plasma renin activity was about 2 to 4 fold higher in the rats dosed with captopril compared with vehicle-treated rats. Heart weight/body weight ratios, initially higher in the two RHR groups compared to NR, decreased only in the captopril treated group to or near those of the NR groups. These results indicate that chronic treatment with captopril decreased SBP and cardiac weights of RHR, and that HCTZ, or possibly other diuretics, can augment the antihypertensive effect of captopril while having little or no effect by themselves.     

SYSTEMIC AND REGIONAL HAEMODYNAMIC PROFILE OF CAPTOPRIL IN CONSCIOUS RABBITS WITH BILATERAL CELLOPHANE PERINEPHRITIS HYPERTENSION

The radioactive microsphere technique was used to study the systemic and regional haemodynamic effects of the converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg) 10 min after intravenous administration in conscious rabbits with bilateral cellophane perinephritis hypertension, an experimental model of hypertension associated with normal plasma renin levels. Captopril lowered arterial blood pressure as a result of a dose-dependent decrease in total peripheral resistance. The fall in blood pressure was accompanied by an increase in cardiac output after the second and third dose of captopril; heart rate was not significantly altered. Captopril produced a generalized peripheral vasodilatation; the changes in vascular conductance being most pronounced in the kidneys, intestines and skin which resulted in a significant increase in blood flow to these vascular beds. The effective antihypertensive properties of captopril in this 'low plasma renin' model of hypertension and the uniform increase in vascular conductances produced by captopril, which antagonizes the generalized increase in vascular resistances that characterizes cellophane perinephritis hypertension, may indicate the involvement of an increased activity of the renin-angiotensin system, possibly in tissues, such as the vascular wall and brain, in the maintenance of the elevated blood pressure in this hypertensive form.     

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activity of MK-0521 in vivo and antihypertensive effect of its single oral administration on blood pressure and effect on the renin-angiotensin system in 2-kidney Goldblatt hypertensive dogs

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of MK-0521 in dogs and the effects of its single oral administration on blood pressure and the renin-angiotensin system in 2-kidney Goldblatt hypertensive dogs were compared with those of captopril and MK-421. MK-0521 at 0.001-0.1 mg/kg, i.v., or 0.01-1 mg/kg, p.o., attenuated the pressor effect of angiotensin I without affecting that of angiotensin II and augmented the depressor effect of bradykinin. The potency of MK-0521 to reduce the pressor effect of angiotensin I was 9.8 times that of captopril by intravenous administration, and by oral administration, it was 15.9-32.1 times that of captopril and approximately 3 times that of MK-421. When administered orally, the onset of action and the time to peak effectiveness were more rapid than those of MK-421, but slower than those of captopril. Duration of the action of MK-0521 was longer than that of captopril and equal or longer than that of MK-421. The inhibition of ACE was well correlated with serum MK-0521 levels. MK-0521 produced a dose-dependent antihypertensive effect in 2-kidney Goldblatt hypertensive dogs at over 0.3 mg/kg, p.o., without affecting the heart rate. The antihypertensive effect of MK-0521 was persistent and approximately 3 times more potent than that of captopril. MK-0521 inhibited the serum ACE activity and increased the plasma renin activity, while it had a tendency to decrease plasma aldosterone level. These changes were parallel to the time course of the antihypertensive effect. These results suggest that the main mechanism of the antihypertensive effect of MK-0521 is the suppression of angiotensin II production due to the inhibition of the ACE.     

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and moderate hypertension

Recently there has been extensive development of orally active angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in addition to those already marketed, for example, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril and ramipril. It was initially thought that ACE inhibitors were likely to be most useful as antihypertensive agents in conditions in which circulating renin and angiotensin II were elevated. However, it is now clear that they can also lower arterial pressure when plasma renin is not high. In addition, they have beneficial effects in cardiac failure. Thus, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril and ramipril can be used in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension either alone or in conjunction with diuretics or calcium antagonists. Broadly speaking, efficacy appears to be similar to that of beta-blockers or diuretics. Unfortunately, however, there are no long term studies comparing one ACE inhibitor with another or with other classes of antihypertensive agents. Furthermore, there are no prognostic studies which show that use of ACE inhibitors reduces morbidity or mortality in hypertension. Many new ACE inhibitors are undergoing clinical assessment, including alacepril, cilazapril, fosenopril, perindopril, quinapril and ramipril. The drugs vary, in that some exist in the active form whereas others are prodrugs which are converted to the active agent following absorption. In addition they each possess one of several ligands, for example, carboxyl, phosphinyl or sulfhydryl groups, and so vary in their affinity for ACE. Although many of these agents are renally excreted, a small number are metabolised via the liver (e.g. quinapril and spirapril) and this may prove advantageous in the presence of renal impairment. In common with captopril and enalapril, the new ACE inhibitors inhibit the renin-angiotensin system and initial results suggest that they are effective in lowering blood pressure in essential hypertension. Furthermore, they reduce systemic vascular resistance in the absence of a reflex tachycardia. There are a number of adverse effects which are attributable to the pharmacological mechanism of the ACE inhibitors as a group; these include hypotension, particularly in patients with high renin levels, prior diuretic use, renal impairment or in the elderly. Additional adverse effects may relate to chemical structure. The high incidence of adverse effects noted in early studies related to excess dosage and to the presence of a sulfhydryl group, which the more recently developed ACE inhibitors lack. The adverse effects most commonly reported with established and new ACE inhibitors include headache and fatigue, cough, skin rashes, hypotension and diarrhoea. As a group, ACE inhibitors have an acceptable but not negligible adverse effect burden.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition with quinapril (CI-906) and captopril in spontaneously hypertensive rats with suppressed renin-angiotensin system

Renin- and nonrenin-mediated antihypertensive actions of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors were investigated in young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Renin was suppressed either by removal of 2/3 of the renal mass, deoxycorticosterone (DOC) treatment, or 1% of NaCl in drinking water. Blood pressure responses to the nonsulfhydryl ACE inhibitor quinapril (CI-906) and the sulfhydryl inhibitor captopril, given orally for 2 days each, were examined by the tail cuff method. The marked depressor responses observed in control SHR were attenuated by the different manipulations in a manner clearly related to suppression of plasma renin activity (PRA). The decrease in blood pressure falls and in PRA was smallest in partially nephrectomized SHR. The mineralocorticoid (DOC) administration or 1% NaCl reduced PRA and the responses to ACE inhibitors markedly, though not completely. In a further experiment, severe salt retention induced by DOC and NaCl in uninephrectomized SHR suppressed PRA to an unmeasurable level and prevented the depressor action of a large dose of captopril. The results suggest that in SHR the acute blood pressure-lowering effect of ACE inhibitors is completely dependent on the renin-angiotensin system. The experiments also show that this system clearly participates in the support of rapidly increasing blood pressure in young SHR.     

Tissue levels, tissue angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition and antihypertensive effect of the novel antihypertensive agent alacepril in renal hypertensive rats

Tissue levels, tissue angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition and hypotension were examined 20 min, 1, 5 and 14 h after oral administration of 1-[(S)-3-acetylthio-2-methylpropanoyl]-L-prolyl-L-phenylalanine (alacepril, DU-1219) (37.5 mg (92 mumol)/kg) or 1-[(S)-3-mercapto-2-methylpropanoyl]-L-proline (captopril) (20.0 mg (92 mumol)/kg) in renal hypertensive rats, using 14C-labeled compounds. Alacepril exerted a more gradual and more sustained antihypertensive effect than captopril. The maximal hypotension was observed 1 and 5 h after administration of captopril and alacepril, respectively. After administration of [14C]captopril, serum level reached the maximum at 20 min and then decreased rapidly. After administration of [14C]alacepril, serum level reached the maximum at 1 h and decreased more slowly than after [14C]captopril. Time course patterns of tissue levels were essentially in parallel with those of serum levels. Captopril exerted the maximal reduction of ACE activity in tissues 20 min after oral administration and thereafter, the reduction was diminished with time rapidly. [14C]Alacepril showed gradual reduction (the maximum at 1 h) and recovery of ACE activity relative to captopril. After oral administration of [14C]alacepril, tissue unbound fractions contained captopril and its derived metabolites while serum unbound fraction contained the intermediate metabolite desacetyl-alacepril (DU-1227) as well. Correlations between ACE inhibition and tissue levels and between changes in tissue ACE inhibition and in blood pressure with time after oral administration of the two agents were discussed. Furthermore, the direct comparison of alacepril and captopril was attempted by the difference in blood pressures and in ACE inhibitions induced after oral administration of the agents.     

Effects of indomethacin on hormonal and blood pressure responses to captopril in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The possible role of vasodilatory prostanoids in the antihypertensive action of captopril was investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Captopril (100 mg/kg/day for 5 days) decreased systolic blood pressure and increased water consumption, urine excretion and plasma renin activity (PRA). It also enhanced the urinary excretion of the prostacyclin metabolite 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, but did not change the excretion of PGE2. Indomethacin (3 mg/kg/day), given both alone and in combination with captopril, reduced markedly the urinary excretions of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE2 but did not alter PRA, compared with corresponding groups without indomethacin. The suppression of prostanoid synthesis caused by indomethacin did not affect the antihypertensive effect of captopril or the basal blood pressure in SHR. Neither did indomethacin influence drinking or urine excretion in SHR not receiving captopril, but it reduced the dipsogenic and diuretic effects of captopril. The results suggest that captopril augments the production of vasodilatory prostacyclin. Yet prostanoids have no significant role in the antihypertensive mechanism of captopril in SHR.     

Antihypertensive assessment of two new angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: CGS 13945 and CGS 13934

CGS 13945 (1-(4-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2,4-dimethyl-2R,4R-butyryl)-2,3-dihydro-2S-indole-2-carboxylic acid) and CGS 13934 (its dicarboxylic acid derivative) are nonthiol angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors which have antihypertensive properties. Acute administration of CGS 13945 lowers systolic pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and sodium depletion enhances the blood pressure reduction; the acute antihypertensive effects of CGS 13934 are minimal. Acute administration of CGS 13945 or CGS 13934 also elevates plasma renin activity, especially in sodium-depleted SHR. CGS 13945 reduces systolic blood pressure of SHR in a dose-dependent manner following oral administration on each of 4 consecutive days, whereas the antihypertensive effect of CGS 13934 is not apparent until the third day of drug administration. After 3 consecutive daily doses, 30 mg/kg (PO) of CGS 13945, CGS 13934 or captopril produce equal antihypertensive effects. CGS 13945 also reduces systolic blood pressure of sodium-depleted normotensive rats. Daily oral administration of CGS 13945 to either sodium-replete or -deplete perinephritic hypertensive dogs does not appreciably affect mean arterial pressure. Results suggest that CGS 13945 must be endogenously de-esterified to the free acid form for endowment of optimal biological activity to inhibit the ACE. While the rat is apparently capable of such hydrolysis, the dog's capacity for endogenous hydrolysis appears to be quite limited.     

Effects of sodium loading on antihypertensive responses to an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor in spontaneously hypertensive and renal hypertensive rats

Sodium loading significantly attenuated the antihypertensive potency of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, SA446, in 2-kidney, 1-clip renal hypertensive rats, but the potency of SA446 remained unchanged in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Basal levels of plasma renin activity of both types of hypertensive rats were suppressed by sodium loading. From these results, it appeared that a different mechanism was involved in the maintenance of hypertension in 2-kidney, 1-clip renal hypertensive rats and in spontaneously hypertensive rats. It also appeared that the mechanism of the antihypertensive action of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors was not explainable only by the suppression of the plasma renin-angiotensin system.     

Antihypertensive activity of alacepril, an orally active angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, in renal hypertensive rats and dogs

Alacepril (1-[(S)-3-acetylthio-2-methylpropanoyl]-L-prolyl-L-phenylalanine, DU-1219) showed a dose related and long lasting antihypertensive effect in renal hypertensive rats (two-kidney, one-clip), a typical renin dependent hypertensive model. The maximum hypotensive potency of alacepril (1-30 mg/kg) after single oral administration was slightly weaker than that of captopril (1-30 mg/kg). Judging from the AOC (area over the antihypertensive curve) value, the overall antihypertensive activity of alacepril was 3 times more potent than that of captopril on a weight basis. The long lasting antihypertensive effect of alacepril in renal hypertensive rats was also confirmed by once daily successive oral administration (1-2 mg/kg/d). In renal hypertensive dogs, alacepril (3 mg/kg) showed a stable and sustained hypotensive effect, and its duration of action was longer than that of captopril. Although alacepril did not possess a significant in vitro angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity, orally given alacepril (5.6-56.1 mg/kg) produced a potent and prolonged in vivo ACE inhibition which was estimated by suppression on angiotensin-I (310 ng/kg i.v.) induced pressor response in conscious normotensive rats. The prolonged in vivo ACE inhibitory activity of alacepril (5.6 mg/kg) was also observed in conscious normotensive dogs. These results suggest that the disposition and metabolism of orally given alacepril are responsible for the prolonged ACE inhibition and, concomitantly, for exerting the long lasting antihypertensive effect. Consequently, alacepril is a novel orally active ACE inhibitor having a potent and prolonged antihypertensive activity, and these properties suggest that alacepril is favorable for the treatment of hypertension.     

Efficacy of captopril in experimental low renin hypertension

Captopril (SQ 14225) had a clear antihypertensive effect in rat Heymann nephritis-DOCA-NaCl hypertension, a low renin model introduced recently, but was ineffective in l-kidney-DOCA-NaCl hypertension although plasma renin activity (PRA) was suppressed similarly in both. Thus, the antihypertensive effect of captopril was independent of circulating renin. This result also suggests different pathogenetic mechanisms of hypertension in these two DOCA-NaCl models.     

Studies of the antihypertensive effects of CL 242,817, a new angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibitor [S−(R*, s*)]-1-[(3-acetylthio)-3-benzoyl-2-methyl propionyl-L-proline]

The antihypertensive activity of CL 242, 817 and captopril were evaluated in conscious, unrestrained aorta-coarcted hypertensive rats (AHR); spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR); and in the two-kidney, one-clip, Goldblatt renal hypertensive beagle (RH2 dog). In AHR, equimolar oral doses of CL 242,817 (5 mg/kg) and captopril (3 mg/kg) had rapid onsets of action and relatively long durations of action. CL 242,817 was significantly more potent and longer-acting than captopril. In the SHR, CL 242,817 was effective in lowering blood pressure by oral, intravenous, or intraperitoneal routes of administration, although less effectively than in AHR. In RH2 dogs, pretreated with the diuretic quinethazone, CL 242,817 (20 mg/kg, p.o.) lowered blood pressure more effectively than an equimolar dose of captopril (12 mg/kg). In RH2 dogs sodium-depleted by furosemide pretreatment and maintained on a salt-free diet to raise plasma renin activity (PRA) levels, CL 242,817 (20 mg/kg, p.o) was more effective than an equimolar oral dose of captorpril (12 mg/kg) in lowering blood pressure. In RH2 dogs, repletion of body sodium (and reduction in PRA) by maintenance on a normal sodium diet for 14 days decreased the antihypertensive effect of CL 242,817 and abolished that of captopril. The data suggest that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) are more effective in models in which PRA is elevated and the hypertension appears to be renin-dependent. The RH₂ dog that is sodium-depleted by furosemide and mainted on a sodium-free diet appears to be a suitable model for evaluating the antihypertensive effects of ACEI.     

Antihypertensive activity of alacepril in spontaneously hypertensive rats and deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt hypertensive rats and dogs

Antihypertensive activity of alacepril (1-[(S)-3-acetylthio-2-methylpropanoyl]-L-prolyl-L-phenylalanine, DU-1219), an orally active angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, was investigated in hypertensive models with normal or low plasma renin activity (PRA). After single oral administration in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), alacepril (1-30 mg/kg) showed a dose related antihypertensive effect with a gradual onset and long lasting action. The maximum hypotensive effect was about 3 times more potent than that of captopril (3-100 mg/kg) on a weight basis. When comparing the AOC (area over the antihypertensive curve) values, the overall antihypertensive activity of alacepril was 8 times stronger than that of captopril. In deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt (DOCA-salt) hypertensive rats, alacepril (10-100 mg/kg) produced a significant and sustained hypotensive effect. The maximum hypotensive potency and the overall antihypertensive activity of alacepril were remarkably stronger than those of captopril (30, 100 mg/kg). During once daily successive oral administration for 10 days in SHR, alacepril (3-10 mg/kg/d) reduced dose relatedly the daily starting blood pressure. In DOCA-salt hypertensive rats and dogs, alacepril (30 mg/kg/d) produced a significant antihypertensive effect, while captopril (30 mg/kg/d) did not reduce daily starting blood pressure. Therefore, it may be expected that alacepril is a more effective antihypertensive agent than captopril in various hypertensions of different etiology.