Nebivolol treatment improves resistant arterial function and reduces ventricular hypertrophy and angiotensin II in spontaneously hypertension rats.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to assess the effects of nebivolol on resistant vascular reactivity, ventricular hypertrophy and the renin-angiotensin system in spontaneously hypertension rats (SHR).
METHODS: Rats were divided into: SHR treated with nebivolol (8 mg/kg, i.g.)/atenolol(80 mg/kg, i.g.); SHR control group; normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) control group. Vascular responses to KCl, noradrenaline (NA), endothelin-1 (ET-1), angiotensin II (Ang II), acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were tested on the femoral and renal artery. Left ventricle weight/body weight ratio (LVW/BW) was measured. Ang II and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in plasma and the left ventricle were determined. Plasma renin activity (PRA) was quantified.
RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure was decreased after nebivolol treatment in SHR. Compared with WKY, the contractions to KCl, NA, Ang II and ET-1 were increased in SHR while the relaxation to ACh was impaired. LVW/BW was higher in SHR. Levels of Ang II and ACE activity in plasma and the left ventricle were increased in SHR, but PRA was similar in these groups. Compared with atenolol, nebivolol markedly improved resistant vascular reactivity and decreased LVW/BW and Ang II. But nebivolol had no influence on ACE activity and PRA in SHR.
CONCLUSION: Nebivolol treatment improved resistant arterial reactivity and reduced left ventricular hypertrophy and Ang II in SHR.