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Bisoprolol and hydrochlorothiazide effects on cardiovascular remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Mougenot N, Médiani O, Lechat P

Service de Pharmacologie, CHU Pitié Salpêtrière, 47, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75651 Paris cedex 13, France. nathalie.mougenot@chups.jussieu.fr

Anti-hypertensive agents may differently stimulate compensatory neuro-hormonal mechanisms and induce different effects on the cardiovascular remodeling and function. The combination of low doses of the two synergistic drugs may lead to a lesser activation of counter regulatory mechanisms and could provide optimal therapeutic benefit. We evaluated on spontaneously hypertensive rats the effect of 3-week period of anti-hypertensive treatment. Rats were divided into four groups: control, bisoprolol (100 mg kg-1), hydrochlorothiazide (10 mg kg-1), and their combination with low doses (10 and 1 mg kg-1, respectively). The effects of treatment were evaluated on neuro-hormonal stimulation, cardiac and vascular structure and function. The combination had synergistic anti-hypertensive effects and significantly reduced heart rate and blood pressure but to a lower extent compared with bisoprolol 100 mg kg-1. Combination therapy was associated with a lower renin activation compared to hydrochlorothiazide alone and improved endothelial function. Cardiovascular remodeling differed between the groups: with bisoprolol, cardiac hypertrophy was reduced; with the combination therapy, the aortic media/lumen ratio was most increased. The consequent shear stress reduction may explain the associated endothelial function improvement. Such favourable cardiovascular remodeling with diuretic-beta-blockade combination may participate to the long-term cardiovascular protection during anti-hypertensive treatment.

Published 1 February 2005 in Pharmacol Res, 51(4): 359-65.
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