PERINDOPRIL TREATMENT PROLONGED THE LIFE-SPAN OF SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Objective: The effects of perindopril treatment on hypertension develo pment and the lifespan of adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were studied. Design: Adult male SHR (aged 15 weeks) were given once a day treatment with 4 mg/kg perindopril by gavage for 12 weeks. Litter mates given distilled water were used as controls. The blood pressure and lifespan of these rats were studied. Methods: The systolic blood p ressure (SBP), heart rate and body weight of these rats were measured at regular intervals until they died from natural causes. At necropsy macroscopic and microscopic examinations were made of various organs t o determine the cause of death. Serum levels of creatinine, urea and p rotein were also measured. Results: Perindopril treatment resulted in the normalization of SBP after 2 weeks of treatment. Withdrawal of the treatment after 12 weeks of treatment caused an elevation of SBP, but the blood pressure of the treated SHR had remained in the normotensiv e range (less than or equal to 150 mmHg). The heart rate and body weig ht of the SHR were not affected by the treatment. The average lifespan of the SHR was increased by 12 weeks compared with the control rats. The heart weight, brain lesions and arterial lesions were reduced by t he treatment.Conclusion: A 12-week treatment of adult SHR with perindo pril was effective in causing a permanent prevention of hypertension, amelioration of some of the tissue damage associated with hypertension and an increase in the lifespan of these rats.