Effect of rosiglitazone on angiotensin II-induced hypertension and its mechanism in rats

AIM:To study the effects of rosiglitazone on angiotensin II (AngII)-induced hypertension in rats and to explore the associated mechanism. METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague Dawley rats were divided equally into four groups: control group, rosiglitazone group, AngII group, and AngII+rosiglitazone group. Rosiglitazone ［5 mg/(kg·d)］ was administrated with AngII ［(300 ng/(kg·min) s.c., osmotic pump］ for 7 days in the rats. Rosiglitazone was also given in sham-operated rats. Blood pressure, heart weight index values, vascular superoxide anion production and NADPH oxidase activity were determined. RESULTS: Compared with those in AngII group, blood pressure, heart weight index values, vascular superoxidase production and NADPH oxidase activity all decreased in AngII+rosiglitazone group ［(136±6) mmHg vs.(166±6) mmHg; (3.54±0.04) mg/g vs.(3.85±0.08) mg/g; (288.49±36.19) cpm/μg vs.(584.04±69.67) cpm/μg, respectively, all P<0.01］. CONCLUSION: Rosiglitazone prevents the development of hypertension and myocardial hypertrophy by inhibiting NADPH oxidase activity, reducing superoxide anion production and lowering AngII-induced hypertension.