Cardiovascular hypertrophy in diabetic spontaneously hypertensive rats: optimizing blockade of the renin–angiotensin system

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare the antihypertrophic effects of blockade of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS), vasopeptidase inhibition and calcium channel antagonism on cardiac and vascular hypertrophy in diabetic spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). SHR with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were treated with one of the following therapies for 32 weeks: the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor captopril (100mg/kg); the angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist valsartan (30mg/kg); a combination of captopril with valsartan; the vasopeptidase inhibitor mixanpril (100mg/kg); or the calcium channel antagonist amlodipine (6mg/kg). Systolic blood pressure and cardiac and mesenter..