Abstract
Studies in animal models suggest that sexual hormones, oxidative stress, and impaired nitric oxide (NO) system and renin‐angiotesin system activation play a role in hypertension during menopause. However, the involved mechanisms are still unknown.Objective: To evaluate the effects of enalapril, an inhibitor of the angiotesin‐converting enzyme (ACE), on systolic blood pressure (SBP), sexual hormones and NO syntase (NOS) activity in normotensive menopausal rats.Wistar rats were ovariectomized, and ten weeks later were divided into two groups: Experimental (E) treated with enalapril for 30 days (15 mg/Kg/day) and Control (C) with tap water. We measured: indirect SBP, androgen, estradiol and FSH plasma levels, and NOS activity (14C‐arginine) in the kidney, aorta and heart at the end of treatment.Results: treatment with enalapril did not induce any changes in SBP, estradiol, androgen and FSH plasma levels.NOS activity (pmol/min 100g tissue), * p<0.01 vs ControlConclusions: The ACE inhibition did not modify SBP or sexual hormones in normotensive menopause rats, but treatment with enalapril improved NOS activity significantly in all the studied tissues. This fact could improve renal and cardiovascular function during menopause.
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