Lacidipine prevents the hypertension and renal and cardiac changes inducedby high-fructose diet in WKY rats

Normotensive rats fed a high-fructose diet (HFD) develop hypertriglyceridem ia, hyperinsulinemia, and hypertension The glomerular changes observed in t he kidneys of these animals are similar to those observed in diabetic rats. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether lacidipine, a calcium antago nist, could have a protective effect with this animal model. Forty male Wis tar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were divided into four groups treated with HFD + place bo; HFD + lacidipine, 0.3 mg/kg/day; HFD + lacidipine, 3 mg/kg/day; or stan dard diet + placebo for 4 weeks. Urinary excretion of the stable metabolic products of nitric oxide (NO) was determined, because this vasoactive agent has been found to cause hemodynamic changes in the diabetic kidney. Glomer ular size was determined by means of morphometric analysis. The results of this study show that lacidipine prevents (a) the HFD-induced increase in bl ood pressure in a dose-dependent manner; (b) the HFD-induced increase in gl omerular size and fibronectin synthesis; and (c) the increase of collagen I II syn thesis in the heart. The drug had no effect on the increased urinary excretion of the stable metabolic products of NO. These data suggest that lacidipine might be useful in preventing the renal and cardiac damage cause d by hypertension and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.