REDUCTION OF CARDIAC-HYPERTROPHY IN TGR(MREN2)27 BY ANGIOTENSIN-II RECEPTOR BLOCKADE

TGR(mREN2)27 is a transgenic rat harboring the murine Ren-2 gene and e xhibit fulminant hypertension and marked heart hypertrophy. In order t o study the role of angiotensin II in the increase of cardiac mass, th ese animals were treated with antihypertensive and non-antihypertensiv e doses of the angiotensin II receptor AT(1) antagonist Telmisartan fo r 9 weeks. All doses led to significant reductions of heart hypertroph y detected by the evaluation of the diameter of cardiac muscle bundles , We conclude from this study that cardiac hypertrophy in TGR(mREN2)27 is characterized by an increased volume of cardiomyocytes and an unch anged amount of fibrous tissue and that angiotensin II plays an import ant role in the mechanisms leading to this phenotype.