Abstract
Recent studies in essential hypertensive patients and rats with genetic hypertension strongly suggested that the development of primary hypertension takes place by a transient and chronic "cascade" of events (i) excess Na+ intake, (ii) secretion of natriuretic factors, (iii) abnormal cells Na+ homeostasis in the vascular wall, due to the presence of inherited abnormalities in different Na+ transport systems, and (iv) increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ content and catecholamines. Canrenone, an antihypertensive drug, behaves like a partial agonist at the digitalis-receptor site of the Na+, K+ pump. We observed here that (i) a 4 hr preincubation of human red cells with this compound increases its antagonistic properties against ouabain, (ii) in cultured smooth muscle cells, canrenone counterbalances the increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ induced by ouabain, and (iii) in a model of experimental hypertension with increased endogenous "ouabain-like" factors (rats with reduced renal mass), the administration of canrenone tends to normalize Na+, K+-pump activity and decrease blood pressure.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
