白花前胡提取物对腹主动脉缩窄大鼠心室重构及Bcl-2、Bax蛋白表达的影响

目的 :研究白花前胡提取物 (PdE)对腹主动脉缩窄术后大鼠心室重构及心肌组织凋亡相关蛋白Bcl 2、Bax表达的影响。方法 :部分缩窄大鼠腹主动脉术制作心肌肥厚模型。称重法检测左室心肌重量 ,计算心系数 ;观察细胞组织结构改变 ,测量左心室内径 ;免疫组织化学法检测凋亡相关基因及Bcl 2、Bax蛋白表达。结果 :腹主动脉缩窄术后 ,大鼠左室重量及心系数明显增加 ;4 0 0 %PdE可明显减轻大鼠腹主动脉术所致左室重量增加 (用药组 0 .4 9±0 .0 7g ,模型组 0 .5 7± 0 .16g ,P <0 .0 5 )及心系数的升高 (用药组 2 .4 4% ,模型组 2 .82 % ,P <0 .0 5 ) ;2 0 0 %PdE亦可明显降低大鼠腹主动脉术后心系数的升高 (用药组 2 .5 1% ,模型组 2 .82 % ,P <0 .0 5 ) ;腹主动脉缩窄术后大鼠心肌细胞明显肥大 ,胞核呈浓染、增大 ,细胞间距增大 ,组织横断面心肌纤维增多 ;4 0 0 %PdE及 2 0 0 %PdE可有效改善因腹主动脉缩窄所致心肌组织结构变化 ;腹主动脉缩窄术后 ,大鼠左室腔内径明显缩小 ,而 4 0 0 %PdE及2 0 0 %PdE可显著改善大鼠腹主动脉术后左室腔内径缩小 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;模型组Bcl 2与Bax蛋白表达率与伪手术组、各浓度PdE组比较均有显著性差异 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,但伪手术组 ,4 0 0 %及 2 0 0 %PdE组Bcl 2 Bax表达比例均较模     

卡托普利对实验大鼠左室肥厚的干预作用

目的观察卡托普利逆转压力负荷增加大鼠左室肥厚的作用。方法采用腹主动脉狭窄所致压力负荷增加大鼠左室肥厚模型,将雄性SD大鼠36只随机分为假手术组、模型组、卡托普利组,观察用药4周后左室重量指数（LVMI）、左室心肌病理形态HE染色、左室心肌细胞超微结构等指标的改变。结果模型组LVMI明显高于假手术组（P〈0．01）,卡托普利组（2．32±0．35）明显低于模型组（2．98±0．36）,P〈0．01;左室心肌病理形态HE染色、左室心肌细胞超微结构的改变与LVMI的改变基本一致。结论卡托普利具有逆转心肌肥厚的作用。     

阿米洛利与依那普利对大鼠左室压力负荷致心肌肥厚与血小板聚集率的影响

目的 观察钠氢交换抑制剂阿米洛利与血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂依那普利预防大鼠腹主动脉部分缩窄致左室肥厚作用和对血小板聚集率的影响。方法 （1）建立大鼠腹主动脉部分缩窄致左室肥厚模型。（2）观察阿米洛利与依那普利对大鼠左室肥厚和血小板聚集率的影响。结果 （1）大鼠腹主动脉部分缩窄后，左心室重量与体重的比值。血小板聚休率均高于正常对照组。（2）在肥厚形成前，预防性给予阿米洛利与依那普利，连续4周，可显著降低左心室重量与体重的比值，抑制血小板聚集率。结论 阿米洛利与依那普利均可预防大鼠腹主动脉部分缩窄后左室肥厚的形成，抑制血小板聚集率。     

黄芪多糖对腹主动脉缩窄致大鼠心肌肥厚能量代谢紊乱的抑制作用

目的探讨黄芪多糖(APS)对腹主动脉缩窄(AAC)致大鼠心肌肥厚的抑制作用及其机制。方法大鼠采用结扎腹主动脉的方法制备AAC模型,1周后ig给予大鼠APS 200,400和800 mg.kg-1,每天1次,共11周。计算心脏质量指数(HMI)和左心室质量指数(LVMI);测定左心室收缩压(LVSP)、左心室舒张末压(LVEDP)和左心室内压最大升降速率(±dp/dtmax),HE染色观察大鼠左室心肌形态学改变;测定左心室乳酸(LAC)、游离脂肪酸(FFA)含量;采用逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)测定心肌心钠素mRNA(ANPmRNA)表达;测定心肌细胞线粒体膜电位(MMP)。结果与假手术组相比,AAC模型组的大鼠,MMP明显降低,其他指标均显著增高。与模型组相比,APS 800 mg.kg-1组HMI,LVMI,LVSP,LVEDP和±dp/dtmax均显著降低(P<0.05);APS 400和800 mg.kg-1组ANP mRNA表达明显下降,MMP明显升高(P<0.05);APS200,400和800 mg.kg-1组LAC水平明显降低(<0.05)。结论 APS能够有效抑制AAC大鼠心肌肥厚并改善其能量代谢紊乱,提高线粒体的活力。     

人参多糖对腹主动脉缩窄大鼠心肌肥厚及心肌能量代谢的影响

目的观察人参多糖对大鼠腹主动脉缩窄(AAC)所致心肌肥厚的抑制作用及对心肌能量代谢的影响。方法腹主动脉缩窄法制备大鼠心肌肥厚模型。50只SD大鼠随机分为Sham组、AAC组、人参多糖200,100,50 mg.kg 1组。术后1周开始腹腔注射给药,共给药11周。检测大鼠全心质量指数(HMI)、左心质量指数(LVMI);HE染色观察大鼠左室心肌形态学改变;RT-PCR法检测心肌组织心钠素(atrial natriuretic peptide,ANP)mRNA的表达;紫外分光光度法检测心肌组织中乳酸(LAC)和游离脂肪酸(FFA)含量;激光共聚焦显微镜定量检测线粒体膜电位(mitochondrial membranepotential,MMP)。结果与Sham组相比,AAC组的HMI和LVMI显著增加(P<0.01),左心室ANP mRNA的表达明显上调(P<0.01);FFA和LAC含量显著升高(P<0.01),MMP显著下降(P<0.01)。与AAC组相比,人参多糖组大鼠心脏HMI和LVMI下降(P<0.01或P<0.05);明显下调ANP mRNA的表达(P<0.01或P<0.05);FFA与LAC含量显著降低(P<0.01或P<0.05);心肌细胞MMP显著升高(P<0.01或P<0.05)。结论人参多糖能有有效抑制AAC大鼠心肌肥厚并改善其能量代谢紊乱,提高线粒体的活力。     

川芎嗪对大鼠压力超负荷型心肌肥厚的保护作用

目的研究川芎嗪（tetramethylpyrazine,TMP）对在体大鼠压力超负荷所致左心室肥厚的保护作用。方法采用腹主动脉缩窄法制备大鼠心肌肥厚模型。随机分为假手术组、模型组、TMP低、中、高3个剂量组（25,50,100 mg.kg-1）及左旋精氨酸组。术后给药3周,监测大鼠心功能,测量左室重量指数（左室重/体质量,LVHI=LVW/BW）和左室重/右室重（LVW/RVW）比率,测定左室心肌纤维直径（MD）;通过实时荧光定量PCR检测心房利钠因子（ANF）和钙调神经磷酸酶（CaN）mRNA的表达。结果与模型组比较,TMP可显著降低左室舒张末压（LVEDP）而增加左心室最大收缩/舒张速率（±dp/dtmax）,减小LVHI、LVW/RVW及MD,降低ANF和CaN mRNA的表达。结论川芎嗪对压力超负荷所致大鼠心肌肥厚具有保护作用,其机制可能与其抑制CaN信号通路有关。     

川芎嗪对腹主动脉缩窄大鼠血浆心房利钠肽水平的影响

目的探讨川芎嗪对腹主动脉缩窄大鼠血浆心房利钠肽（atrial natriuretic peptide,ANP）水平的干预作用。方法银夹法建立腹主动脉缩窄大鼠模型,用放免法进行血浆ANP检测,观察川芎嗪对大鼠左室心肌质量指数（LVMI）、左室心肌病理形态胶原染色和血浆ANP改变的干预作用。结果造模8周时左室心肌质量指数、血浆ANP表达模型组较假手术组显著升高（P〈0.01）,川芎嗪组较模型组显著降低（P〈0.01）。结论川芎嗪可延缓腹主动脉缩窄大鼠所致心肌纤维化进程,可能影响与血浆ANP水平有关。     

压力负荷增加大鼠模型左室心肌局部血管紧张素Ⅱ水平的改变

目的 观察压力负荷增加大鼠左室心肌局部血管紧张素Ⅱ水平的变化,探讨压力负荷增加致左室重构的可能机制。方法加只SD大鼠随机分为假手术组和模型组（手术组）,利用腹主动脉缩窄法制备压力负荷增加大鼠模型,观察造模8周后观察左室重量指数,采用放射免疫分析法测定左室心肌局部血管紧张素Ⅱ水平。结果模型组大鼠造模8周后左室重量指数（LVMI）较假手术组显著升高（P〈0．01）,模型组左室心肌组织AngⅡ水平较假手术组也有明显上升（P〈0．01）。结论压力负荷增加大鼠左室心肌局部血管紧张素Ⅱ水平是升高的;压力负荷增加大鼠左室重构的作用可能与左室心肌局部血管紧张素Ⅱ水平有关。     

三七总皂苷对肥厚心肌大鼠蛋白激酶C表达的影响

目的：探讨三七总皂苷对心肌肥厚大鼠的细胞信号转导系统中蛋白激酶C（PKC）的影响。方法采用腹主动脉部分缩窄术复制大鼠心肌肥厚模型,50只大鼠随机分为假手术组,心肌肥厚模型组,低、中、高剂量三七总皂苷治疗组,检测心脏质量指数及左室心肌质量指数,B超检测左心室后壁及室间隔厚度, Western blot对比心肌组织中PKC含量。结果同假手术组比较,模型组和各个治疗组的大鼠左室心肌质量指数增加（P〈0.05）,左心室及室间隔厚度增加（P〈0.05）, PKC含量升高;同模型组比较,心脏质量指数及左室心肌质量指数下降（P〈0.05）,左心室及室间隔厚度减少（P〈0.05）, PKC含量下降,但低,中,高剂量丹三七总皂苷治疗组之间差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论三七总皂苷可以减少PKC表达,抑制心肌肥厚。     

丹参酮ⅡA对压力负荷增加的大鼠TNF-α表达的影响

目的观察TNF-α在压力负荷增加大鼠血清中的表达,并探讨其对心肌纤维化的作用机制。方法 32只成年雄性SD大鼠,随机分成四组(n=8),假手术组(Sham组)、模型组(Model组)、Tan II A组(Tan II A组,20 mg.kg-1.d-1)及阳性对照药物卡托普利组(Captopril组,100 mg.kg-1.d-1)。除Sham组外,其余3组大鼠均行肾上方腹主动脉缩窄术制备压力负荷增加心肌纤维化模型,Sham组仅分离腹主动脉而不结扎。术后4周成功造模并开始给药,疗程为4周。8周后检测左室重量指数、心肌组织病理学、心肌羟脯氨酸(HYP)含量、血清TNF-α蛋白的含量。结果与Model组比较,Tan II A组能明显抑制心肌纤维化大鼠心肌组织的病理改变,降低心肌肥厚指数、心肌羟脯氨酸含量以及血清TNF-α蛋白浓度(P0.01)。结论压力负荷增加大鼠血清TNF-α蛋白表达明显升高,表明促炎细胞因子TNF-α在压力负荷增加大鼠心肌纤维化中起着重要的作用;TanII A对心肌纤维化的保护作用可能部分与下调促炎细胞因子表达有关。     

Alpha-adrenergic responsiveness in rat isolated perfused heart after abdominal aortic coarctation

Chronic isoproterenol pre-treatment, a well-known model of compensatory hypertrophy associated with cardiac beta-adrenoceptor desensitization, enhances the inotropic response to phenylephrine in rat isolated perfused hearts, supporting the hypothesis that myocardial alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation contributes to the maintenance of myocardial performance in situations in which cardiac beta-adrenoceptor function is compromised. To further corroborate this hypothesis, the effects of abdominal aortic coarctation on cardiac alpha-adrenergic responsiveness were investigated in Langendorff heart preparations. Abdominal aortic coarctation causes cardiac hypertrophy (21%) as shown by a significant increase in the ratio of ventricular dry weight to bodyweight. In preparations from hypertrophied rats, both maximum increases in left ventricular systolic pressure and heart rate elicited by isoproterenol (10(-12) to 10(-4) M) were significantly reduced (the isoproterenol concentration producing 50% of the maximum positive inotropic and chronotropic responses was enhanced almost 21- and 2-fold, respectively). However, the positive inotropic response to phenylephrine (10(-12) to 10(-4) M) remained unaffected following abdominal aortic coarctation, when compared with sham-operated rats. In preparations from both groups, phenylephrine infusion did not induce significant changes in heart rate. These results show that although abdominal aortic stenosis induced desensitization of cardiac beta-adrenoceptors, it did not enhance cardiac alpha-adrenoceptor responsiveness. This suggests that such an enhancement depends on the experimental model used to induce cardiac hypertrophy associated with desensitization of cardiac beta-adrenoceptors.     

Modulation of adrenergic receptors during left ventricular hypertrophy development and after regression by captopril.

The objective of this study was to analyze adrenergic receptors during cardiac hypertrophy development, after establishment of cardiac hypertrophy and after regression of cardiac hypertrophy by an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was induced by abdominal aortic stenosis. After surgery, plasma norepinephrine concentrations (PNE) and left ventricular adrenergic receptors from rat hearts subjected to aortic stenosis were assessed during cardiac hypertrophy development (at 3, 7, 15, and 30 days of aortic stenosis), once cardiac hypertrophy had been established (7 and 14 weeks after the stenosis) and after regression of cardiac hypertrophy by an antihypertensive dose (200 mg/kg/day) of captopril. The presence of LVH was observed from day 7 after stenosis. PNE had significantly increased after 15 days but returned to control values 30 days after surgery. The density of alpha1-adrenoceptors was found to decrease with development of hypertrophy. Once hypertrophy had been established, 7 weeks from stenosis, PNE was not different from control; however, the density of alpha1-adrenoceptors continued to diminish, whereas PNE and the density of beta-adrenoceptors were no different from control values. Fourteen weeks after stenosis, a significant decrease in PNE was recorded, and no change in alpha1- but an increase in beta-adrenoceptors was observed. LVH was reversed by treatment with captopril; PNE was similar in control and stenosed treated animals. The density of alpha1-adrenoceptors was decreased when compared with control animals, and no change in the density of beta-adrenoceptors was observed with treatment. In conclusion, a decrease of alpha1-adrenoceptors was associated with LVH development and earlier stages of established cardiac hypertrophy. Later stages of established cardiac hypertrophy were characterized by no change in alpha1- and an increase in beta-adrenoceptors. Treatment with captopril induced LVH regression and decreased the number of alpha1-adrenoceptors without any change in beta-adrenoceptors.     

辛伐他汀减轻舒张功能不全大鼠心肌线粒体损伤

目的：探讨辛伐他汀对舒张功能不全心衰（DHF）大鼠心脏功能的作用及机制。方法：50只雄性SD大鼠,随机分为对照组、DHF组、辛伐他汀1mg组（S1组）、2mg组（S2组）和4mg组（S4组）。采用腹主动脉缩窄建立DHF模型,S1、S2、S4组大鼠术后灌胃分别给予辛伐他汀1、2、4mg·kg^-1·d^-1,对照纽和DHF组大鼠给予同等量生理盐水。4周末心脏B超检测心功能,颈动脉插管记录血流动力学,分光光度计检测心肌线粒体丙二醛（MDA）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）含量,电镜检测心肌线粒体超微结构。结果：DHF组大鼠左室后壁（LVPW）、室间隔（IVS）、左室心脏指数（LVM）、E／A比值增高,左室收缩压（LVSP）、左室舒张末期压（LVEDP）升高,左室松弛时间常数（Tau）延长,平均左室内压最大下降速率（LV-dp／dtmax）下降,心肌SOD和GSH-Px下降、MDA增加,电镜示心肌细胞肌丝排列不整齐、线粒体肿胀及空泡化等线粒体损伤。辛伐他汀改善DHF大鼠心功能和血流动力学指标,同时减轻线粒体结构和功能损伤,随着辛伐他汀剂量的增加,以上指标改善程度越明显。结论：辛伐他汀减轻DHF大鼠心肌细胞和线粒体损伤是辛伐他汀保护DHF大鼠心功能的重要机制。     

异叶青兰总黄酮对高血压大鼠心肌肥厚的影响

目的观察异叶青兰总黄酮对肾性高血压大鼠心肌肥厚的影响。方法左肾动脉狭窄(2K1C)法建立高血压大鼠模型,术后第6周随机分为5组:假手术组(Sham);模型组(Model);异叶青兰总黄酮高剂量组(DHBFH)、低剂量组(DHBFL);卡托普利组(Captopril)。灌胃给药6周后进行超声心动图、心肌病理学检测,白介素-1β(IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)和基质金属蛋白酶抑制剂-1(TIMP-1)mRNA的测定。结果给药6周后,模型组大鼠左心室室壁厚度、心肌细胞大小及左心室心肌间质纤维化程度较假手术组明显升高,IL-1β、TNF-α明显升高(P<0.01),MMP-9、TIMP-1 mRNA的相对表达量明显升高(P<0.01),给予DHBFH后,左心室肥厚及心肌纤维化较模型组明显降低,IL-1β、TNF-α明显降低,MMP-9、TIMP-1 mRNA的相对表达量明显降低(P<0.01)。结论异叶青兰总黄酮能改善高血压大鼠心肌肥厚及心肌纤维化程度,可能与其能够降低血压,降低IL-1β、TNF-α水平,调节MMP-9/TIMP-1的表达有关。     

Hydroxysafflor yellow A attenuates left ventricular remodeling after pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats

Context: Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), the main chemical component of the safflower yellow pigments, is used extensively in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases.

Objective: The present study determined the effects of HSYA on left ventricular hypertrophy after pressure overload and investigated the underlying mechanisms.

Materials and methods: Cardiac hypertrophy was induced by the ligation of abdominal aorta in male Wistar rats. The rats were then divided into five groups and treated with captopril (100?mg/kg) or HSYA at different doses (0, 10, 20 and 40?mg/kg). Six weeks after treatment, the weight of left ventricle, LVMI (left ventricular mass index) and pathological changes were measured. MMP-2 (metalloproteinase 2) and MMP-9 (metalloproteinase 9) levels were determined by ELISA. Protein expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.

Results: HSYA (20, 40?mg/kg) significantly attenuated the increase of LVMI (ventricular weight/body weight) by 13.04 and 30.43% respectively, when compared with the model group. This was associated with the amelioration of pathological lesion, such as cardiac muscle fibers were smaller and the nuclei of cardiomyocytes were lightly stained in animals treated with HSYA (20, 40?mg/kg). In addition, the administration of HSYA at doses of 20 and 40?mg/kg increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio (1.17?±?0.08 and 1.39?±?0.07 versus 0.71?±?0.06). In addition, the serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were blocked by the treatment at doses of 20 and 40?mg/kg HSYA (MMP-2, 76.1?±?9.2 and 65.6?±?6.8 versus 82.9?±?6.2, ng/ml; MMP-9, 66.6?±?4.8 and 57.5?±?5.0 versus 83.5?±?6.0, ng/ml).

Conclusion: These findings indicated that HSYA has beneficial effects on hypertensive ventricular remodeling, which may involve mechanisms of inhibiting cell apoptosis and suppressing metalloproteinases expression.     

美托洛尔对腹主动脉缩窄大鼠心肌 CalpainⅠ、 CaN 信号通路的影响

目的 以钙调神经磷酸酶（CaN）和钙蛋白酶Ⅰ（Calpain Ⅰ）为研究对象,探讨美托洛尔预防腹主动脉缩窄 大鼠心肌肥厚的机制。方法 30 只 SD 大鼠建立腹主动脉缩窄模型,造模成功者随机分为假手术组（n=10）、腹主动 脉缩窄手术组（n=9）和美托洛尔组（n=9,在腹主动脉缩窄基础上每日予美托洛尔干预）。术后 4 周检测大鼠血压［收 缩压（SBP）/舒张压（DBP）］及心肌肥厚程度变化［左心室质量/体质量的比值（LVW/BW 表示）］,逆转录 PCR（RTPCR）法检测 CaN mRNA 表达,Western blot 法检测 CaN 和 CalpainⅠ蛋白表达。检测各组的 CaN 酶活性。结果 手 术组大鼠 SBP、DBP、LVW/BW,心肌 CaN mRNA、CaN 蛋白、CaN 活性及 CalpainⅠ蛋白表达均较假手术组增高（P＜ 0.05）。美托洛尔组大鼠 SBP、DBP 虽较手术组略下降,但差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）,且仍高于假手术组（P＜ 0.05）。与手术组相比,美托洛尔组大鼠 LVW/BW、心肌中 CaN mRNA、蛋白表达和酶活性,CalpainⅠ蛋白显著下降 （P＜0.05）,与假手术组差异均无统计学意义。结论 美托洛尔可通过抑制 CalpainⅠ,调控 CaN 信号通路,从而预防 压力超负荷大鼠心肌肥厚的发生。     

卡托普利对左心室心肌血管紧张素Ⅱ—1型受体mRNA及其受体蛋白的影响

目的观察卡托普利对左室心肌血管紧张素Ⅱ-1型受体mRNA表达及其受体蛋白的影响,探讨卡托普利逆转左室重构的机制。方法36只大鼠分为假手术组、模型组和卡托普利组,每组12只。采用RT—PCR方法检测心肌组织AT1 mRNA的表达,采用免疫组织化学染色方法观察心肌组织AT1受体蛋白的改变。结果模型组大鼠左心室心肌组织AT1 mRNA表达较假手术组升高（P〈0．01）,卡托普利组左心室心肌组织AT1 mRNA表达较模型组显著下降（P〈0．01）。模型组大鼠左心室心肌组织AT1受体蛋白较假手术组升高（P〈0．01）,卡托普利组左心室心肌组织AT1受体蛋白较模型组显著下降（P〈0．01）。结论压力负荷所致心肌肥厚大鼠左心室心肌中AT1基因转录与AT1蛋白合成水平是升高的;卡托普利对压力负荷所致心肌肥厚大鼠左心室心肌AT1基因转录与翻译水平均有影响。     

Comparison of irbesartan with captopril effects on cardiac hypertrophy and gene expression in heart failure-prone male SHHF/Mcc-fa(cp) rats

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have proven an effective means to control hypertension and manage cardiac hypertrophy. It is presently unknown if newer specific angiotensin II subtype 1 receptor (AT1R) antagonists are as effective or more effective in treating these conditions compared with ACE inhibitors. There is evidence that these classes of drugs may affect cardiac hypertrophy by different mechanisms. This study compared the effect of irbesartan, an AT1R antagonist, with that of captopril, an ACE inhibitor, on expression of early genetic markers of cardiac hypertrophy in lean male SHHF/Mcc-fa(cp) rats. SHHF/Mcc-fa(cp) rats (n = 10/group) were given captopril (100 mg/kg/day), irbesartan (50 mg/kg/day), or placebo for 16 weeks. Irbesartan and captopril significantly reduced systolic pressure and produced similar rightward shifts in the angiotensin I dose-response curve. Renal renin gene expression was increased 8.6-fold by irbesartan and 17.7-fold by captopril. The only effect on echocardiographic findings was a similar decrease in aortic peak velocity, an index of systolic function, by both treatments. Early markers of cardiac hypertrophy were significantly attenuated by both drugs. Both drugs produced marked and equivalent reductions in left ventricular atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels compared with controls. This decrease in ANP gene expression was accompanied by a decrease in plasma ANP concentration in the treatment groups. The shift from V1 to V3 myosin isozymes was similarly decreased in both treatment groups, compared with controls. These data suggest that captopril and irbesartan are similarly effective in controlling expression of genes associated with ventricular hypertrophy in heart failure-prone SHHF/Mcc-fa(cp) rat.