Objective: To investigate effects of losartan, fosinopril and amlodipine on cardiomyocyte apoptosis, cardiac remolding in the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).
Methods: SHRs were treated with lorsartan (SHR-L), fosinopril (SHR-F), amlodipine (SHR-A), and untreated (SHR-C) respectively for 8 and 16 weeks. Cardiomyocyte apoptotic index (APOI), left ventricular mass, left ventricular mass index (LVM, LVMI), and plasma and myocardium angiotensin II(PAng II, MAng II) concentrations were examined.
Results: 1. The systolic blood pressure was decreased similarly in all treatment groups in 8 and 16 weeks. LVMIs were reduced significantly in all treatment groups. LVMI was significantly lower in SHR-F group than that in other two treatment groups in 16 weeks. 2. APOIs were decreased significantly in SHR-F group in 8 weeks and in all treatment groups, especially in SHR-F group in 16 weeks. 3. Compared with SHR-C group in both periods, PAng II and MAng II were significantly increased in SHR-L group, but MAng II concentration was only decreased significantly in SHR-F group in 8 weeks, and in SHR-F and SHR-A groups in 16 weeks.
Conclusion: Losartan, amlodipine, and especially fosinopril can inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis, prevent myocardial fibrosis, and reverse heart hypertrophy. Inhibition of myocardium rennin--angiotension--aldsteron system may be the mechanism of the three drugs' cardioprotective effects.