BLOCKADE OF ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME BUT NOT OF ANGIOTENSIN AT(1) RECEPTORS IMPROVES GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE

This study compared the effect of benazepril, an angiotensin convertin g enzyme inhibitor to valsartan, an angiotensin AT, receptor antagonis t, on glucose tolerance in the conscious, spontaneously hypertensive r at. Intraperitoneal infusion of benazepril or valsartan at 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg per day produced equivalent dose-related reductions in systolic blood pressure for 12 weeks. Body weight gain during the treatment pe riod was significantly reduced by all infusion rates of benazepril. In contrast, only the highest infusion rate of valsartan significantly a ffected body weight gain. At the end of the 12-week treatment period, neither benazepril nor valsartan significantly affected glucose dispos al during intravenous glucose tolerance tests. The insulin response to glucose challenge was unaffected by valsartan whereas following the h ighest infusion rate of benazepril the plasma insulin levels were sign ificantly reduced. The results demonstrate that benazepril but not val sartan reduces the insulin required to dispose of a glucose load.