FAILURE OF ASPIRIN TO MODIFY THE HYPOTENSIVE ACTION OF CAPTOPRIL IN SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Abstract

1. Oral administration of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril (30 mg/kg per day) to spontaneously hypertensive rats of the Okamoto strain progressively reduced arterial blood pressure by 60 mmHg over 4–5 days. 2. Oral treatment of spontaneously hypertensive rats with aspirin (200 mg/kg per day) for one week did not alter blood pressure, but it greatly reduced the vasodepressor effects of intravenous injections of arachidonic acid (3 mg/kg). 3. The fall in blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats treated concurrently with both aspirin (200 mg/kg per day) and captopril (30 mg/kg per day) was not different to the fall observed in rats treated with captopril alone. 4...