In vivo effects of angiotensin-ii receptor blockade and converting enzyme inhibition on canine aortic viscoelasticity. Barra, Juan Gabriel, Jaime Levenson, Ricardo Luis Armentano, Edmundo Ignacio Cabrera Fischer, Ricardo Horacio Pichel, Alain Simon. Basic Sciences Research Institute, The Ren[acute]e Favaloro University Foundation, Sol's 453, 1078, Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA, and Centre de M[acute]edicine Pr[acute]eventive Cardiovasculaire, H[circumflex]opital Broussais, INSERM (CRI), 96 rue Didot, 75674 CEDEX 14 Paris, FRANCE
APStracts 3:0390H, 1996.
The influence of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on the aortic wall mechanical properties under angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibition (enalaprilat, 0.3 mg/Kg iv), or angiotensin-II receptor (AT1) blockade (E-3174, 1 mg/Kg iv) was examined in 8 normotensive and 8 renovascular hypertensive conscious dogs. Aortic diameter (D, sonomicrometry)-pressure (P, microtransducer) hysteresis loops during steady-state and during rapid distal aortic occlusion allowed (after hysteresis elimination) calculation of the aortic wall viscosity index, the purely elastic P-D relationship, and derivation into compliance-pressure curves. At the early stage of renovascular hypertension when activation of RAS is more pronounced aortic wall stiffness and wall viscosity were increased as compared with normotensive states. Blood pressure remained unchanged in normotensive animals and was reduced during hypertension after antihypertensive treatments. In hypertensive animals, enalaprilat and E-3174 decreased viscosity index and shifted the compliance-pressure curve upward with respect to pre-treatment conditions. In normotensive dogs, whereas E-3174 did not change the compliance -pressure curve and viscosity index, enalaprilat increased compliance and reduced viscosity index. We concluded that in normotensive dogs converting enzyme inhibition modifies arterial visco-elastic parameters by angiotensin-independent mechanism which contribute to the modulation of the buffering function of large arteries.

Received 3 October 1995; accepted in final form 21 August 1996.
APS Manuscript Number H932-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 19 September 1996