Low-dose spironolactone reduces reactive oxygen species generation and improves insulin-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle in the TG(mRen2)27 rat.

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activation mediates increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and impaired insulin signaling. The transgenic Ren2 rat manifests increased tissue renin-angiotensin system activity, elevated serum aldosterone, hypertension, and insulin resistance. To explore the role of aldosterone in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, we investigated the impact of in vivo treatment with a mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist on insulin sensitivity in Ren2 and aged-matched Sprague-Dawley (SD) control rats.

Mineralocorticoid receptor blockade attenuates chronic overexpression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system stimulation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase and cardiac remodeling.

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system contributes to cardiac remodeling, hypertrophy, and left ventricular dysfunction. Angiotensin II and aldosterone (corticosterone in rodents) together generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) via reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, which likely facilitate this hypertrophy and remodeling. This investigation sought to determine whether cardiac oxidative stress and cellular remodeling could be attenuated by in vivo mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) blockade in a rodent model of the chronically elevated tissue renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, the transgenic TG (mRen2) 27 rat (Ren2).

Metabolic safety of antihypertensive drugs: myth versus reality.

Treatment of hypertension with the major available antihypertensive classes results in a significant improvement in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, there is controversy about whether specific classes of drug therapy have deleterious or beneficial effects on glucose and lipid metabolism. Myths and misconceptions have thus arisen.