Journal of hypertension
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Journal of hypertension · Feb 1999
Comparative StudyEffects of antihypertensive therapy on factors mediating endothelium-dependent relaxation in rats treated chronically with L-NAME.
To evaluate the relative participation of endothelium-derived factors mediating relaxation in response to acetylcholine in isolated mesenteric vascular beds from rats treated chronically with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME); and to compare the consequences of prolonged treatment with either an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or a calcium channel blocker on the components of acetylcholine-induced relaxation in this vascular preparation. ⋯ The administration of L-NAME in Sprague-Dawley rats increased the production of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor as a compensatory mechanism to maintain acetylcholine-induced relaxation. Antihypertensive therapy with either quinapril or diltiazem produced a selective redistribution of the endothelial factors mediating acetylcholine-induced relaxation.