The role of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in cardiac remodelling was
studied in isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats. The effects
of captopril and spironolactone were compared. Isoproterenol treatment incr
eased ventricular to body weight ratio (4.6 vs 3.7) and collagen area (22.6
vs 8.2%), and reduced systolic (89.93 vs 107.5 mm Hg) and diastolic (59.6
vs 70.8 mm Hg) pressure. In these animals, captopril decreased systolic (67
.4 mm Hg) and diastolic pressure (31.9 mm Hg), whereas spironolactone regre
ssed systolic pressure to control values (101.2 mm Hg). Captopril and spiro
nolactone prevented cardiac hypertrophy (4.01 and 3.95). However, only spir
onolactone prevented myocardial fibrosis (11.3%). (C) 2001 Academic Press.