Effect of apelin-13 on lowering blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats

AIM: To investigate the effect of apelin-13 on lowering the blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). METHODS: Sixteen spontaneously hypertensive rats and 16 Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were randomized, respectively, to receive apelin-13 (15 mg/kg) or normal saline. After the 1-min administration, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate were tested. RESULTS: Apelin-13 decreased SBP and DBP from (120±7) mmHg and (90±11) mmHg to (96±8) mmHg (20%) and (81±8) mmHg (10%) and increased the heart rate from (377±26)/m to (421±36)/m (1.8%) in WKY rats. Apelin-13 decreased SBP and DBP from (220±15) mmHg and (170±13) mmHg to (145±16) mmHg (47%) and (117±10) mmHg (15%) and increased the heart rate from (398±31)/min to (449±42)/min (2.1%) in SHRs. CONCLUSION: Apelin-13 has a more significant effect on lowering blood pressure in SHRs compared with WKY rats.