he Tsukuba hypertensive mouse (THM) is a hypertensive animal model prepared by introducing human renin and angiotensinogen genes into C57BL/6 mouse. 1 In THM, the cause of hypertension is known to be a single factor, an enhancement of the reninangiotensin system (RAS). In THM, angiotensin II (AII) is 3-5 times higher in serum and that in the heart and kidney is 4-5 times higher compared to C57BL/6 mice. 2 At 6 weeks of age, when blood pressure measurement becomes possible, THM already show elevated blood pressure. In THM, the occurrence of severe cardiac hypertrophy and glomerulosclerosis, in comparison with the degree of hypertension, has been reported. 3 L -158,809 [5,7-dimethyl-2-ethyl-3-[{2'-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)is a selective AII receptor antagonist with high potency, good per os absorption, long duration and antihypertensive efficacy after a single dose equal to that of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition, and does not have AII agonist activity. 4,5 The affinity of L-158,809 for the AII type 1 receptor (AT1R) and its potency for the inhibition of AII responses in a variety of tissues and in vitro preparations is subnanomolar (IC50=0.2-0.8 nmol/L). L-158,809 is 50-200 times more potent than losartan, an AT1R antagonist, and 5-15 times more potent than the metabolite, EXP3174. Indeed, the affinity of L-158,809 for AT1R is similar to that of the natural hormone, AII. With respect to the subtypes of AII receptors, L-158,809 has high selectivity for the AT1R, as does losartan, unlike PD-123,177 and PD-121,981, which are selective for AII type 2 receptor (AT2R). Unlike other AT1R antagonists, the inhibitory activity of L-158,809 is observed shortly after per os administration, and the duration of activity is greater than 24 h for both intravenous and per os administration. Moreover, the per os to intravenous potency ratio is 0.8. Therefore, L-158,809 is the most potent AT1R antagonist described to date.In the present study, L-158,809 was administered to THM, and its curative effects on cardiac hypertrophy and nephropathy were examined.
Methods
Animals and DrugsNine male THM were assigned to each of an L-158,809 dosage group (0.3 mg/kg per day) and a no-dosage group. Nine age-matched male C57BL/6 mice were used as normal controls. In the L-158,809 group, the drug was dissolved in drinking water and administered for 8weeks from the age of 20 weeks. All the mice were euthanized at 28 weeks of age. The mice were bred in an air-conditioned room at 22±2°C and humidity of 50±10%, with a 12-h light period (from 7.00 h to 19.00 h). They were fed a breeding The effects of L-158,809, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist, on cardiac hypertrophy and nephropathy were examined using Tsukuba hypertensive mice (THM) carrying both human renin and angiotensinogen genes. Nine male THM aged 20 weeks were assigned to each of a no-dosage group and an L-158,809 dosage group, and L-158,809 was administered for 8 weeks. Nine age-matched male C57BL/6 mice were used as normal control animals. At 28 weeks of age, all of the mice w...