ANTIHYPERTENSIVE ACTION OF TRANDOLAPRIL AND VERAPAMIL IN SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS AFTER UNILATERAL NEPHRECTOMY

It is well documented that the kidney plays a fundamental role in long -term arterial pressure regulation, and, as an endocrine organ, in the regulation of cardiovascular structure and functionality. In this stu dy, the antihypertensive effect Of long-term treatment (6 months) with placebo, verapamil, trandolapril, and a combination of the latter (ve rapamil plus trandolapril) was investigated in spontaneously hypertens ive rats after half-renal-mass ablation. Arterial pressure was monitor ed during treatment and at the end, aortic structure and functionality were investigated. Trandolapril and the combination returned pressure to normal, whereas verapamil was less effective. All three treatment groups were similarly effective at reducing aortic medial hypertrophy, the wall-to-lumen ratio. and contraction evoked by potassium chloride and noradrenaline. Verapamil and veratran were more effective than tr andolapril at reducing lamina media cross-sectional area. Trandolapril and the combination were more effective than verapamil at improving e ndothelial dysfunction.