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.     

A comparison of antihypertensive properties of captopril and enalapril after single and multiple oral administration in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Oral dose of enalapril or captopril moderately reduced the blood pressure of the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) but not those of normotensive rats. The single daily dose of captopril (30 mg/kg) produced antihypertensive response equivalent to enalapril (3 mg/kg). Chronic administration of these drugs for 2 weeks revealed that systolic blood pressure was reduced more by captopril than enalapril. We did not find differences in hypotensive activity between Enalapril IF and Renitec Merck as well as Captopril JZF Polfa and Capoten Squibb.     

Captopril potentiates the vasodepressor action of Met-enkephalin in the anaesthetized rat

The transient vasodepressor action of Met-enkephalin (10-80 micrograms kg-1, i.v.) in anaesthetized rats was significantly potentiated by the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril (2 mg kg-1, i.v.); at this dose, it failed to modify the transient vasodepressor action of the non-specific vasodilator, nitroprusside (2.5, 5.0, 10 micrograms kg-1, i.v.). Captopril (2 mg kg-1, i.v.) caused a slow, progressive fall in the blood pressure of anaesthetized spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats when compared to vehicle-treated controls. Pretreatment with naloxone (1.5 mg kg-1, i.v.) 30 min earlier failed to alter significantly the hypotensive action of captopril in anaesthetized SH rats. It was concluded that although captopril potentiated the vasodepressor action of Met-enkephalin in anaesthetized normotensive rats, potentiation of endogenous opioids does not appear to be involved in the hypotensive action of captopril in anaesthetized SH rats.     

BLOOD PRESSURE OVERSHOOT UNDER PENTOBARBITONE ANAESTHESIA FOLLOWING A SINGLE DOSE OF CLONIDINE IN RATS*

Withdrawal of chronic antihypertensive therapy with clonidine is known to produce a blood pressure overshoot. It has been reported that the same may occur after a single dose of clonidine. A single, intramuscular dose of clonidine (0.05 mg/kg) produced an overshoot in blood pressure, on the day following administration, in normotensive rats anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone. No rebound elevation of mean arterial pressure or of heart rate occurred in conscious, normotensive, spontaneously hypertensive or renal hypertensive rats following this dose of clonidine, nor did it occur in rats anaesthetized with ether. It is suggested that the overshoot phenomenon in rats under barbiturate anaesthesia may involve an interaction between an effect of clonidine and the barbiturate.     

Studies on the effects of piperidine derivatives on blood pressure and smooth muscles contractions

Ten substituted phenacyl derivatives of 4-hydroxypiperidine were synthesized and studied for their effects on the mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in normotensive anaesthetized rats and smooth muscles contractions of isolated rabbit jejunum. Two derivatives caused fall in blood pressure at the dose of 10≈20 mg/kg and one rise in blood pressure at the dose of 20 mg/kg. Two compounds exhibited biphasic response (hypotensive followed by hypertensive) and one gave triphasic response at 10 mg/kg dose. Rest of four derivatives were found devoid of any effect on mean arterial blood pressure up to the dose of 30 mg/kg. All the derivatives except two caused relaxant effect on the spontaneous contraction of rabbit jejunum at the dose range of 0.1≈2 mg/kg.     

HYPOTENSIVE EFFECTS OF CAPTOPRIL ADMINISTERED CENTRALLY IN INTACT CONSCIOUS SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS AND PERIPHERALLY IN ANEPHRIC ANAESTHETIZED SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

1. The hypotensive response to captopril in anaesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) is not modified by bilateral nephrectomy performed 1 or 24 h previously. 2. Intracerebroventricular injection (i.c.v.) of captopril (2 mg kg^?1) significantly lowered blood pressure of conscious SHR over a 7-h period of observation but there was no significant blood pressure response to i.c.v. vehicle, or to intravenous captopril (2 mg kg^?1) in SHR. 3. There was no significant blood pressure response to captopril (2 mg kg”') i.c.v. in the normotensive Wistar Kyoto controls (NT-WK). 4. These results indicate that captopril can lower the blood pressure of SHR by mechanisms independent of the kidneys or the circulating renin-angiotensin system. 5. The hypotensive effect of central captopril in SHR but not in the NT-WK suggests biochemical differences between the brains of the two rat strains.     

Antihypertensive effect of CV-4093.2HCl, a new calcium antagonist, in three rat models of hypertension

The hypotensive action of CV-4093.2HCl (CV-4093), a new calcium antagonist, was studied in spontaneously hypertensive, renal hypertensive, DOCA-salt hypertensive and normotensive rats. CV-4093 (3 and 10 mg/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently decreased systolic blood pressure in the three types of hypertensive rats. At the dose of 10 mg/kg, the compound decreased the blood pressure to the normotensive level between 1 and 3 hr after it was administered; the antihypertensive effect lasted for at least 8 hr. The systolic blood pressure in normotensive rats was also decreased at 3 and 10 mg/kg, p.o., but less evidently than in the hypertensive rats. When the antihypertensive effect of CV-4093 was compared with that of seven known calcium antagonists in spontaneously hypertensive rats, it was the most potent and the most long-lasting.     

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.     

FAILURE OF ASPIRIN TO MODIFY THE HYPOTENSIVE ACTION OF CAPTOPRIL IN SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

1. Oral administration of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril (30 mg/kg per day) to spontaneously hypertensive rats of the Okamoto strain progressively reduced arterial blood pressure by 60 mmHg over 4–5 days. 2. Oral treatment of spontaneously hypertensive rats with aspirin (200 mg/kg per day) for one week did not alter blood pressure, but it greatly reduced the vasodepressor effects of intravenous injections of arachidonic acid (3 mg/kg). 3. The fall in blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats treated concurrently with both aspirin (200 mg/kg per day) and captopril (30 mg/kg per day) was not different to the fall observed in rats treated with captopril alone. 4. The hypotensive action of captopril in spontaneously hypertensive rats does not appear to be due to stimulation of vasodilator prostanoid biosynthesis.     

Effect of captopril on serotonergic mechanisms in two-kidney, one-clip renal hypertensive rats.

In 2K,1C-RHR (two-kidney, one-clip hypertensive rats) serotonergic mechanisms in blood platelets were studied. The endogenous serotonin (5-HT) concentration in whole blood and in platelets remained unchanged in relation to the sham operated rats. Also the uptake of labelled 5-HT in rats with renal hypertension was not altered. However platelets aggregability was increased in 2K,1C-RHR. Acute administration of captopril (10 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg po) diminished blood pressure but did not change either the concentration of 5-HT in whole blood and in platelets of hypertensive rats or the uptake of this amine. Platelets aggregation and the amplifying effect of 5-HT in hypertensive rats were also unchanged after acute captopril administration. Similar results were observed after its administration in a dose of 30 mg/kg for one week. Our results indicate that captopril did not affect the platelets serotonergic mechanisms in 2K,1C-RHR.     

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.     

Hypotensive effects of diltiazem hydrochloride in the normotensive, spontaneously hypertensive and renal hypertensive rats (author's transl)

In conscious and anesthetized normotensive rats, intravenous administration of diltiazem (0.1--3 mg/kg) produced a dose-related decrease in blood pressure. Administration of diltiazem (1--50 mg/kg) into the duodenum of anesthetized rats also reduced the blood pressure in a dose related manner. In parallel with the change in blood pressure, the heart rate increased in conscious rats and decreased in anesthetized animals. Such an increase in the heart rate was suppressed by pretreatment with propranolol. Similarly, in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), diltiazem dose-dependently decreased the blood pressure and increased the heart rate after intravenous administration (0.03--1 mg/kg). Oral administration of diltiazem (100 mg/kg) also reduced the blood pressure of SHR. In addition, the progressive increase in blood pressure in young SHR was significantly suppressed by chronic oral administration of diltiazem (30 mg/kg). The blood pressure in conscious renal hypertensive rats was also decreased with diltiazem (50 mg/kg p.o.). On the other hand, it was demonstrated that the pressor responses to norepinephrine and angiotensin II in the anesthetized normotensive rats were non-competitively inhibited by intravenous administration of diltiazem at a dose which had no effect on the blood pressure.     

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.     

The effect of prostaglandin E2 on the arterial blood pressure of normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats

1 In anaesthetized rats, injection of prostaglandin E(2) (0.5-5.0 mug/kg i.v.) caused a dose-dependent vasodepressor response. The magnitude of response was significantly greater in spontaneously hypertensive rats than in normotensive rats.2 In spontaneously hypertensive rats, the magnitude of the prostaglandin-induced depressor response was closely correlated with blood pressure. The higher the blood pressure, the greater was the response evoked by prostaglandin.3 In spontaneously hypertensive rats, a combination of guanethidine plus hydralazine reduced both blood pressure and prostaglandin-induced depressor responses.4 Spontaneously hypertensive rats and normotensive rats did not differ in the magnitude of their vasodepressor responses to intravenously administered acetylcholine or isoprenaline.     

Antihypertensive action of the novel angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor benazepril hydrochloride in hypertensive rat models

Single or repeated administration of benazepril hydrochloride (CGS 14824 A, CAS 86541-74-4), a novel angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitor, (0.3-10 mg/kg p.o.) caused significant antihypertensive effects in renal and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The antihypertensive effects of benazepril hydrochloride was about 3 times as potent as that of captopril in these models. Single administration (0.3-3 mg/kg p.o.) of benazepril hydrochloride and enalapril maleate showed an equipotent antihypertensive effect in SHR. Benazepril hydrochloride (3-30 mg/kg p.o.), however, showed no clear effect on the blood pressure and heart rate in normotensive or DOCA/salt hypertensive rats.     

Hypotensive and hemodynamic effects of the new non-sulfhydryl angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor N-[8-amino-1(S)-carboxyoctyl]-L-alanyl-L-proline

The hypotensive effects of N-[8-amino-1(S)-carboxyoctyl] -L-alanyl-L-proline (AB-47, CAS 120008-53-9) were examined in normotensive rats and various hypertensive rat models. The hemodynamic effect of AB-47 was also examined in anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In 2-kidney, 1-clip renal hypertensive rats (2K, 1C-RHR) and SHR, the single administration of AB-47 (10 mg/kg, p.o.) induced potent and long-lasting hypotensive effects. The repeated administration of AB-47 (1 to 10 mg/kg, p.o.) to SHR for 29 days produced a dose-dependently and sustained hypotensive effect of 20 to 70 mmHg. AB-47 (10 mg/kg, p.o.) had a weak hypotensive effect in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats but no effects in normotensive and 1-kidney, 1-clip renal hypertensive rats (1K, 1C-RHR). AB-47 (3 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced blood pressure in intact SHR but not in bilateral nephrectomized SHR. The single intravenous injection of AB-47 (10 to 100 micrograms/kg) dose-dependently lowered systemic blood pressure, left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and dp/dtmax without affecting heart rate (HR) and these effects of AB-47 were more potent than those of captopril and enalaprilat. These results suggest that AB-47 is a potent and long-lasting hypotensive agent and may be useful for the therapy of both hypertension and congestive heart failure.     

Combined effects of low-dose spironolactone and captopril therapy in a rat model of genetic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

For several years, the severe side effects associated with the use of high doses of the aldosterone antagonist, spironolactone, limited its clinical use. Studies have recently shown efficacy and minimal side effects of low-dose spironolactone combined with standard therapy in the treatment of heart failure and hypertensive patients. The authors evaluated the effects of low-dose spironolactone alone or in combination with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on the progression of left ventricular dysfunction and remodeling in a congenic rat model of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.The congenic SS-16/Mcwi rats developed severe cardiac hypertrophy despite being normotensive even on high-salt diet. SS-16/Mcwi and SS/Mcwi rats were fed a low-salt (0.4% NaCl) diet and were treated with vehicle (CON), spironolactone (20 mg/kg/d subcutaneously), captopril (100 mg/kg/d drinking water), or both spironolactone and captopril for 4 weeks. Blood pressure, plasma peptides, cardiac fibrosis, and echocardiography measurements were evaluated.Spironolactone at a low dose had no effect on blood pressure, cardiac hypertrophy, and fibrosis in either strain. However, in combination with captopril, spironolactone decreased the cardiac hypertrophy more than captopril treatment alone. In the SS-16/Mcwi rats, the combined therapy significantly preserved the cardiac index when compared with control.These data indicate that the addition of low-dose spironolactone to captopril treatment was more effective in preventing the progression of heart hypertrophy and ventricular dysfunction in the SS-16/Mcwi than captopril alone. This study suggests that combined spironolactone and captopril therapy may be useful in the treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.     

The effect of prostaglandin synthesis inhibition of the acute blood pressure reduction by captopril in pentobarbital-anaesthetized rats

Treatment of pentobarbital-anaesthetized rats with captopril (SQ 14225) caused a reduction in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), which lasted for over 1 h when a dose of 5 mg/kg i.p. was used. Pretreatment with the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors indometacin (IND, 5 mg/kg i.p.) or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 100 mg/kg i.p.) did not prevent the initial decrease in MAP after captopril. However, the recovery of the MAP was much faster than after captopril alone. In rats pretreated with IND, the MAP after captopril was significantly higher than after captopril alone from 30 min onwards. With ASA pretreatment the same was observed after 45 min. These data indicate that the subacute blood pressure lowering effect of captopril in pentobarbital-anaesthetized normotensive rats may be at least partly dependent on the presence of an intact prostaglandin biosynthetic pathway. This may be due to activation of prostaglandin synthesis by the accumulation of bradykinin and angiotensin I after captopril.     

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.     

Effect of pithing on the postjunctional sympatho-inhibitory action of captopril in cats

Summary Pithing of anaesthetized normotensive cats significantly lowered the arterial blood pressure and augmented plasma renin activity (PRA). Captopril dose-dependently diminished mean arterial blood pressure in both pithed and intact anaesthetized normotensive cats. The hypotensive effectiveness of captopril was most pronounced in pithed cats. Captopril inhibited the hypertensive response to intravenously administered noradrenaline in pithed cats, but did not attenuate the hypertensive response to noradrenaline in intact cats. The results do not exclude that the hypotensive activity of captopril in intact cats may be causally independent of the attenuating effect of converting enzyme inhibition on the postjunctional -adrenoceptor mediated vasoconstriction as observed in pithed animals.