EFFECTS OF 4 WEEKS OF TREATMENT WITH TRANDOLAPRIL ON RENAL-HYPERTENSION AND CARDIAC AND VASCULAR HYPERTROPHY IN THE RAT

The effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor trandolapri l were studied using a Goldblatt (two-kidney, one-clip) rat model of r enovascular hypertension after 4 weeks of oral treatment at 0.3 or 1 m g/kg/day. The effects of trandolapril on blood pressure and on cardiac and vascular hypertrophy were analyzed in comparison with the control group. Trandolapril produced a rapid, dose-dependent decrease in bloo d pressure, which plateaued after 2 weeks of treatment. Complete norma lization of blood pressure was observed at a daily dose of 1 mg/kg. Do se-dependent inhibition of cardiac hypertrophy was also observed, hear t:body weight ratio being decreased by 17 and 30% at 0.3 and 1 mg/kg, respectively, leading to a normalization of this parameter at the high er dose compared with normotensive controls. Similarly, trandolapril p roduced a marked decrease in vascular wall hypertrophy in both the mes enteric artery and the aorta. Indeed, complete normalization of media thickness was observed, compared with the normotensive control group, at 1 mg/kg of trandolapril. These results show that short-term treatme nt with trandolapril can induce complete regression of cardiac and vas cular hypertrophy. which is associated with the development of renal h ypertension.