Some aspects of vascular reactivity are altered in mild experimental uraemia, as shown by increased myogenic tone and a reduced lumen diameter in the femoral artery. This study was conducted to investigate the prevention of these uraemia-induced vascular abnormalities by the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) Ramipril. Ten male Wistar rats were rendered uraemic (U) by 5/6th nephrectomy, and 10 control (C) rats were concurrently sham-operated. After 4 weeks, both groups were given daily subcutaneous injections of 3 μg of Ramipril for a further 4 weeks. Tail-cuff systolic blood pressure was then recorded and the rat was killed. Isolated femoral arteries were mounted on a pressure myograph and pressurized at 40 mmHg for baseline measurements of the lumen internal diameter. Myogenic tone was then assessed over a range of intravascular pressures from 40 to 160 mmHg. Biochemically, serum urea and creatinine were significantly higher in the uraemic (U) group [urea: U, 23±3 mmol/l; C, 6±1 mmol/l (P < 0.001); creatinine: U, 147±17 mmol/l, C, 72±11 mmol/l (P < 0.01)]. Systolic blood pressure was the same in both groups (U, 127±7 mmHg; C, 127±3 mmHg). The mean baseline internal diameter was the same in both groups (U, 756±22 μm; C, 721±34 μm, not significant), as was mean myogenic tone (U, 4.7±1%; C, 3.4±1%). In conclusion, there were no differences in baseline lumen diameter or myogenic tone in uraemic compared with control femoral arteries of rats treated with Ramipril, which suggests that Ramipril may prevent the development of elevated myogenic tone and decreased lumen diameter previously observed in this model of uraemia. These results suggest that these specific vascular abnormalities in uraemia may be mediated by renin or bradykinin, or by the direct action of angiotensin II on vascular smooth muscle.
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August 1999
Research Article|
June 29 1999
Ramipril prevents basal arterial constriction and enhanced myogenic tone in the femoral artery in mildly uraemic normotensive rats
Tessa SAVAGE;
*Anthony Raine Research Laboratories, St. Bartholomews Hospital, Dominion House, 59 Bartholomew Close, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE, U.K.
Correspondence: Mrs T. Savage.
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Aisling C. MCMAHON;
Aisling C. MCMAHON
*Anthony Raine Research Laboratories, St. Bartholomews Hospital, Dominion House, 59 Bartholomew Close, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE, U.K.
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Adrian MULLEN;
Adrian MULLEN
*Anthony Raine Research Laboratories, St. Bartholomews Hospital, Dominion House, 59 Bartholomew Close, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE, U.K.
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Rachel M. TRIBE;
Rachel M. TRIBE
†Fetal Health Research Group, St.Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, U.K.
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Magdi M. YAQOOB
Magdi M. YAQOOB
*Anthony Raine Research Laboratories, St. Bartholomews Hospital, Dominion House, 59 Bartholomew Close, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE, U.K.
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Clin Sci (Lond) (1999) 97 (2): 233–237.
Article history
Received:
February 01 1999
Accepted:
March 29 1999
Citation
Tessa SAVAGE, Aisling C. MCMAHON, Adrian MULLEN, Rachel M. TRIBE, Magdi M. YAQOOB; Ramipril prevents basal arterial constriction and enhanced myogenic tone in the femoral artery in mildly uraemic normotensive rats. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 August 1999; 97 (2): 233–237. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/cs0970233
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