peter c. papageorgiou

New pressor protein (NPP) is a human plasma enzyme, which is structurally related to the beta-fragment of activated factor XІІ. The present study aimed to compare the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (captopril) and angiotensin type 1 receptor blocker (losartan) on the hypertension induced by NPP injection in normal (sham-2NX) and bilaterally nephrectomized rats (2NX).

In total, 60 male Wistar rats were sham operated or bilaterally nephrectomized under anesthesia. After 24 h of anesthesia with Inactin®</sup> (100 mg/kg), their systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) were measured before and after the intravenous administration of captopril, losartan, and NPP.

In the sham-2NX group, after NPP injection, changes were observed in SBP (145.99 ± 3.6 mmHg), DBP (93.9 ± 3.87 mmHg), and HR (400.29 ± 12.78 bpm). In the captopril group, SBP and DBP had no significant changes, while HR increased significantly (P< = 0.001). In the losartan group, SBP and DBP decreased (P< = 0.001 and P< = 0.000, respectively), while HR had no significant changes. In the 2NX group, after NPP injection, changes were denoted in SBP (127.89 ± 9.03 mmHg), DBP (65.86 ± 5.69 mmHg), and HR (333.35 ± 11.47 bpm). In addition, captopril injection increased DBP (P< = 0.016) and HR (P< = 0.036) in response to NPP injection, while losartan injection had no significant effects in this regard.

It could be concluded that losartan could improve hypertension in normal rats, while captopril deteriorated hypertension in bilaterally nephrectomized rats in this hypertension model.