Abstract
Objective: NO-inhibition has no effect on blood pressure (BP) of some spontaneous hypertensive animals, but when combined with dexamethasone (DEXA), it increases BP. The study compared effects of L-NAME and/or DEXA on systemic BP of spontaneously hypertensive pregnant and non-pregnant Wistar albino rats. Method: In two simultaneous experiments 62 female rats were used. All animals were mated for 7 days. Sperm positive (n1 = 33) and negative (n2 = 29) animals were each divided randomly into 4 groups. BPs were recorded in both experiments on the 15th day from tails indirectly, and then animals were given Physiologic Saline (Controls), L-NAME (150mg/kg/day), DEXA (100µg/kgBW/day) or L-NAME+DEXA (150mg and 100-µg per kg BW/day) for consequent 5 days. At 19th day, BPs were measured again, before applications. Then, animals put into individual metabolic cages for 24-h urine collection. Thereafter, blood was collected under ether anesthesia, animals were euthanized and necropsied. Weights of animals (BWs), left kidneys, adrenal glands, and fetuses; food consumptions; 24-h urine volume; urinary proteins, blood glucose, and fetus numbers were determined. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and ANOVA for repeated measures. Results: In pregnant animals, L-NAME had higher BWs than DEXA and L-NAME+DEXA (P = 0.021 and P = 0.012, respectively). In non-pregnant animals, DEXA reduced BWs significantly compared with controls (P=0.042). Interventions influenced only the diastolic blood pressure of pregnant animals (P = 0.043). The difference between DEXA and L-NAME+DEXA was significant (P = 0.044). The effects of interventions on other variables varied according to whether animals are pregnant or not. Conclusion: L-NAME and/or DEXA did not influence BP in hypertensive rats.
Highlights
Hypertension, characterized by a systolic blood pressure of ≥140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 mmHg, is one of the most important reasons of premature deaths, and the most important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in men worldwide (Baker et al, 2007)
There was no significant difference in mean body weights of both pregnant and non-pregnant animals at the beginning of the experiments (P>0.05)
The findings of this study reveal that the effects of L-NAME, DEXA, and L-NAME + DEXA combination depend on the physiological conditions of female Wistar rats
Summary
Hypertension, characterized by a systolic blood pressure of ≥140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 mmHg, is one of the most important reasons of premature deaths, and the most important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in men worldwide (Baker et al, 2007). It may be primary, developing because of environmental or genetic factors, or secondary, with multiple etiologies including vascular, renal, nervous, endocrine and nutritional causes. There are many risk factors implicating in the genesis of hypertension (Zhang et al 2013)
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