REDUCTION OF THE MORTALITY-RATE BY IMIDAPRIL IN A SMALL CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE-MODEL, (NZW X BXSB)F1 MALE-MICE

For this study, we used (NZW x BXSB)F1 male mice as a model of myocard ial infarction. The animals were kept on water containing imidapril or enalapril at 60 mg/kg/day from 10 to 27 weeks of age. Imidapril and e nalapril significantly reduced the blood pressure. Imidapril reduced t he mortality rate more significantly than enalapril did. In the second experiment where imidapril, enalapril and captopril were administered to the mice at 5 mg/kg/day, p.o., both imidapril and captopril signif icantly reduced the mortality, but enalapril did not. Blood pressure w as slightly reduced by these ACE inhibitors. These data suggest that i midapril and captopril are efficacious for the treatment of myocardial infarction and blood pressure reduction hardly contributes to its mec hanism of action.