Oxidative stress has been proposed as important in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Measurement of 8-iso prostaglandin F2alpha (8-ISO) is introduced for evaluating oxidative stress in vivo. 8-ISO is the major urinary metabolite of F2-isoprostanes and is formed nonenzymatically from the attack of superoxide radicals on arachidonic acid. We examined the oxidative stress level in the Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl-S) rats and the Dahl salt-resistant (Dahl-R) rats. Dahl-S and Dahl-R rats were fed either a high salt diet (8% NaCl; HS) or low salt diet (0.3% NaCl; LS) for 3 weeks, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 24-hr urinary excretion of 8-ISO (U-8-ISO) were measured. In Dahl-S rats, the high salt diet induced hypertension (139 +/- 3 mmHg in LS versus 186 +/- 2 mmHg in HS, p < .05) and significantly increased the U-8-ISO (24.9 +/- 3.6 ng/24 hr in LS versus 63.2 +/- 14.6 ng/24 hr in HS, p < .05). No significant difference in blood pressure or U-8-ISO was observed between high-salt and low-salt treated Dahl-R rats. U-8-ISO concentration was correlated with SBP in all four experimental groups (r = 0.866). Moreover, urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (U-8-OHdG), which is one of the most commonly used markers for evaluation of oxidative stress, was higher in Dahl-S-8% rats than in Dahl-S-0.3% rats (136.1 +/- 48.4 ng/24 hr in LS versus 322.8 +/- 46.7 ng/24 hr in HS, p < .05), and U-8-OHdG was correlated with SBP (r = 0.681) in Dahl-S rats. These results suggest oxygen radicals are involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension.

To assess a role for peripherally administered angiotensin II (ANG II) in regulating vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone, ADH) release, the effects on plasma ANG II and ADH of intraperitoneal injections of ANG II dissolved in various solutions were examined in conscious rats. Plasma ANG II and ADH were determined by radioimmunoassay using the trunk blood collected after decapitation. Injections of 150 mM NaCl containing ANG II (6, 12, or 24 micrograms X 2 ml-1 X 100 g body wt-1) caused dose-related increases in plasma ANG II 15 and 30 min after, but plasma ADH remained unchanged. The lack of effect on plasma ADH of the ANG II dissolved in isotonic saline was also confirmed in another series of experiments in which the solution with a higher ANG II concentration was loaded by much smaller injection volume (14.3 micrograms X 0.1 ml-1 X 100 g-1). However, when given together with 600 mM NaCl, ANG II (8 micrograms X 2 ml-1 X 100 g-1) significantly potentiated the plasma ADH response to the vehicle at 15, 30, and 60 min, without affecting those of plasma osmolality, sodium, and hematocrit. The elevations of plasma ANG II and osmolality brought about by the treatment were comparable with those previously observed in rats deprived of water for 46 h. ANG II was without effect on the plasma ADH responses to the intraperitoneal injections of hypertonic sucrose or mannitol solution that did not alter plasma sodium, although these solutions were equipotent to 600 mM NaCl in augmenting plasma ADH and osmolality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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These results suggest that amlodipine attenuates cardiac damage by lowering plasma aldosterone concentration in hypertensive rats with developing arteriosclerosis.

Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers are not uniform in terms of their action on calcium channel. L-type calcium channel blockers dilate the resistance arterioles. Cilnidipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker that also acts on N-type calcium channels, and may dilate venules through its effect on the sympathetic receptor. The influence of an L-type calcium channel blocker (nifedipine) or this L+N type blocker at 10(-7) mol to 10(-4) mol on venular diameter was examined by superfusion of male Syrian hamster cheek pouches. Nifedipine dose dependently dilated the arterioles alone, whereas cilnidipine dilated both arterioles and venules. Application of 10(-7) mol omega conotoxin, an inhibitor of N-type channels, after nifedipine led to significant dilation of venules, while it had no influence when administered after cilnidipine. These findings indicate that the effects of calcium channel blockers on the venules differ according to the action on N-type calcium channels, and that cilnidipine (an L+N type calcium channel blocker) dilates venules through its additional action on N-type channels.