ah-23848 and Hypertension

The role of thromboxane in the gravid normotensive (CD) and hypertensive (SHR) rat was investigated (by utilizing two thromboxane receptor-blocking drugs, EP092 and AH23848) both at mid-gestation and at term. The parameters examined were uterine blood flow (blood flows were measured by the microsphere technique) and uterine weight and placental blood flow at term, fetal mass and number. At mid-gestation EP092 significantly (P < 0.005) increased uterine blood flow in both strains whilst the increases seen with AH23848 were not statistically significant. At term (day 22 in the CD and day 23 in the SHR rat) the antagonists increased uterine blood flow in the CD rats alone. However, at this time the antagonists caused an increase in placental blood flow in both strains. Thromboxane appears to be involved in the regulation of uteroplacental blood flow. The observation that the antagonists were able to potentiate blood flow by mid-gestation may provide a clinical indication with respect to potential prophylactic use of this class of compounds in cases of pregnancy-induced hypertension in women.

Topics: Animals; Biphenyl Compounds; Female; Hypertension; Organ Size; Placenta; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; Pregnancy, Animal; Prostaglandins, Synthetic; Rats; Rats, Inbred SHR; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Regional Blood Flow; Thromboxanes; Uterus

Hypertension is associated with an endothelial dysfunction characterized by an increased endothelium-dependent contraction and a decreased endothelium-dependent relaxation. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition with cilazapril or captopril can remarkably improve the endothelial function in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The goal of the present study was to investigate whether ACE inhibitors were acting by decreasing endothelium-dependent contraction or by increasing endothelium-dependent relaxation. Endothelial function was estimated by calculating the ratio of maximal contraction to serotonin on isolated aortic rings with endothelium to maximal contraction on paired rings without endothelium, termed the serotonin ratio. The serotonin ratio was greater than 1 in SHRs, indicating the release of a vasoconstrictor substance by the endothelium. This substance was identified as prostaglandin (PG) H2, because the serotonin ratio was significantly decreased by thromboxane (TX) A2/PGH2 receptor antagonists but not by TXA2 synthetase inhibitors. Two weeks of treatment of SHRs with cilazapril led to a marked decrease in the serotonin ratio, although acute administration of cilazaprilat was without any effect. However, after 2 weeks of treatment, the serotonin ratio still could be lowered further by TXA2/PGH2 receptor antagonists, indicating that cilazapril did not act by inhibition of PGH2 synthesis. In contrast, the effect of a 4-week treatment with cilazapril could be completely reversed by inhibiting the action of endothelium-derived relaxing factor with methylene blue. The same result was found after treatment with captopril. We speculate that ACE inhibitors improve endothelial function in SHRs not by inhibiting the synthesis of PGH2 but by increasing the release or the action of endothelium-derived relaxing factor.

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Animals; Biphenyl Compounds; Captopril; Cilazapril; Endothelium, Vascular; Hypertension; Male; Methylene Blue; Nitric Oxide; Pyridazines; Rats; Rats, Inbred SHR; Serotonin; Thromboxanes; Vasoconstriction

To determine whether the increased renal biosynthesis of thromboxane A2 observed in young genetically hypertensive rats of the Lyon strain could be involved in the development of their hypertension, Lyon hypertensive female rats received either thromboxane synthetase inhibitors (Dazmegrel or OKY 046) or a thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist (AH 23848) during their prehypertensive stage. Treatment from 5 to 9 weeks of age with Dazmegrel failed to reduce systolic blood pressure. When given from 3 to 9 weeks of age, Dazmegrel and OKY 046 induced a similar progressive and specific reduction (60%) in the urinary excretion of thromboxane B2 that was associated with a transient decrease in blood pressure level with Dazmegrel and a longer lasting blood pressure-lowering effect with OKY 046. AH 23848, given according to the same schedule, normalized the blood pressure level. This effect persisted 1 week after the cessation of the treatment. Interestingly, active doses of thromboxane synthetase inhibitors or of thromboxane A2 receptor blocker required a 3-week delay to exhibit their antihypertensive properties. It is concluded that 1) the elevated production of thromboxane A2 observed in young Lyon hypertensive rats is likely to participate actively in their blood pressure regulation and 2) this effect may be independent of its direct vasoconstrictor properties.

Topics: Animals; Biphenyl Compounds; Female; Hypertension; Imidazoles; Methacrylates; Rats; Rats, Mutant Strains; Receptors, Prostaglandin; Receptors, Thromboxane; Thromboxane A2; Thromboxane-A Synthase

In order to determine whether the increased renal biosynthesis of thromboxane A2, observed in young genetically hypertensive (LH) rats of the Lyon strain, could be involved in the development of their hypertension, 12 LH female rats were given a specific thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist, AH 23848 (Glaxo Group Research) orally (2 mg/kg twice a day) from 3 to 9 weeks of age. In addition, 12 LH and 12 normotensive (LN) rats were given vehicle only (sodium bicarbonate 8%). The thromboxane receptor antagonist AH 23848, which inhibited platelet aggregation by about 65%, did not modify the renal production of thromboxane A2, prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). It induced a progressive, potent and long lasting decrease in systolic blood pressure which was normalized in 6-, 7- and 8-week-old LH rats, thus demonstrating the involvement of thromboxane A2 in the onset of hypertension in this model. In contrast with thromboxane synthetase inhibitors, the AH 23848 antihypertensive effect persisted 1 week after the cessation of treatment, showing the superiority of thromboxane A2 receptor blockade over thromboxane synthetase inhibition.

Topics: Animals; Biphenyl Compounds; Blood Pressure; Depression, Chemical; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Female; Hypertension; Platelet Aggregation; Rats; Rats, Inbred SHR; Receptors, Prostaglandin; Receptors, Thromboxane; Thromboxane A2