Effect of verapamil on blood pressure and lesions in heart and kidney of rats made hypertensive by deoxycorticosterone (DOC).

The effect of verapamil, a calcium antagonist, was studied in rats treated with deoxycorticosterone (DOC). DOC induced hypertensive cardiovascular disease with accompanying gross and microscopic lesions in heart and kidney. Verapamil administered in the drinking fluid (1% sodium chloride) prevented hypertension and significantly ameliorated the incidence and severity of cardiovascular lesions. With exception of the spleen, verapamil did not prevent renal or myocardial hypertrophy in rats treated with DOC in spite of prevention of hypertension. The level of verapamil in the serum of animals consuming verapamil (0.37 +/- 0.16 microgram/ml) was less than that of the DOC-verapamil group (0.89 +/- 0.16 microgram/ml), although the difference was not significant. These results confirm the efficacy of verapamil in reducing blood pressure and in ameliorating vascular lesions.