Sympathoinhibition and Vasodilation Contribute to the Acute Hypotensive Response of the Superoxide Dismutase Mimic, MnTnBuOE-2-PyP, in Hypertensive Animals.

The pathogenesis of hypertension has been linked to excessive levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly superoxide (O), in multiple tissues and organ systems. Overexpression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) to scavenge O has been shown to decrease blood pressure in hypertensive animals. We have previously shown that MnTnBuOE-2-PyP (BuOE), a manganese porphyrin SOD mimic currently in clinical trials as a normal tissue protector for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, can scavenge O and acutely decrease normotensive blood pressures.