Dexamethasone induced alterations in the levels of proteases involved in blood pressure homeostasis and blood coagulation in rats

This study was designed to investigate the alterations in the levels of var ious proteases such as anglotensin converting enzyme (ACE), kallikrein, ami nopeptidases, urokinase and plasmin in serum-heart and kidney and to find o ut whether the changes in the levels of these enzymes could explain the pat hogenests of hypertension induced by Dexamethasone (Dex). Dex was administe red to Male Wistar rats (180-200 g body weight) at a dosage of 2.5 mg/kg/we ek subcutaneously on alternate days for 2 weeks. One more week was included in this investigation to oversee the recovery process. Mean Arterial Press ure (MAP) showed significant elevation during administration and after with drawal of Dex. The levels of enzymes such as angtotens'm converting enzyme, carboxypeptidase-N and leucine ammopeptidase were found to be elevated in serum as well as in tissues. The level of kallikrein was observed to decrea se in serum and tissues and that of thrombin, plasmin and uroldnase exhibit ed variations. Thus, treatment with Dex altered the levels of these proteas es which might have a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and in alter ed blood coagulation.