Protection of organic trauma in sinoaortic-denervated rats treated with fosinopril.

Aim: To study the importance of blood pressure variability in organ protection for long-term treatment with fosinopril in-sinoaortic-denervated (SAD) rats.

Methods: Fosinopril (15 mg.kg-1.d-1) was given in rat chow for 16 weeks after SAD surgery. Blood pressure variability (BPV) was recorded during 24 h in conscious state. Histopathological changes were evaluated with light microscope and computer-assisted image analysis.

Results: Long-term treatment with fosinopril significantly decreased BPV in SAD rats. The thickness of the left ventricular wall, collagen fraction of the left ventricle and glomerulosclerosis score were all positively related to BPV in untreated and fosinopril-treated SAD rats. Fosinopril markedly prevented the damages of target organs in SAD rats.

Conclusion: Long-term treatment with fosinopril showed obvious organ protection in SAD rats. The decrease in BPV may significantly contribute to organ protection.