We investigated the role of prostanoid-mediated pressor mechanisms in setting the level of blood pressure in renin-dependent and renin-independent models of hypertension in unanesthetized rats. Intravenous administration of a blocker of thromboxane A^prostaglandin endoperoxide receptors, SQ29548 (2 mg/kg bolus injection plus 2 mg/kg/hr for 3 hours), reduced from 162±4 to 144±5 mm Hg (/?<0.05) the blood pressure of rats with aortic coarctation-induced hypertension at 7-14 days after coarctation when plasma renin activity is greatly increased. In contrast, treatment with SQ29548 was without effect on the blood pressure of either normotensive or hypertensive rats (i.e., aortic coarctation-induced hypertension at 90-113 days after coarctation, deoxycorticosterone-salt-induced hypertension) having normal or depressed values of plasma renin activity. The blood pressure-lowering effect of SQ29548 in the early phase of aortic coarctation-induced hypertension was positively correlated with the prevailing plasma renin activity and could not be demonstrated in hypertensive rats pretreated with indomethacin. We attribute the hypotensive effect of SQ29548 to interference with pressor mechanisms that depend on activation of thromboxane Aj/prostaglandin endoperoxide receptors and suggest that such prostanoid-mediated mechanisms are operational and contribute to an increase in blood pressure in angiotensin-dependent forms of hypertension. Also prostanoid-mediated vasodepressor mechanisms are operational in the early phase of aortic coarctation-induced hypertension since the blood pressure of rats pretreated with SQ29548 was increased by the subsequent administration of indomethacin. Accordingly, the blood pressure of rats with aortic coarctationinduced hypertension is influenced by the interplay of prostanoid-mediated pressor and vasodepressor mechanisms. (Hypertension 1991;17:517-525) I nhibitors of cyclooxygenase were reported to lower the blood pressure of human subjects and rats with renin-dependent hypertension. '-4 Inasmuch as the cyclooxygenase inhibitors also caused reduction of plasma renin activity, the accompanying hypotensive effect was attributed to diminished expression of prostanoid-mediated mechanisms of renin secretion.
"4 However, the blood pressurelowering effect of inhibitors of cyclooxygenase in renin-dependent models of hypertension also may be the consequence of decreased synthesis of thromboxane (Tx)A 2 and prostaglandin (PG) endoperoxides, which are known to stimulate contraction of vascular smooth muscle via activation of common receptors.
5The demonstration that inhibitors of cyclooxygenase cause blood pressure to fall in forms of renindependent hypertension suggests contribution of prostanoid-mediated pressor mechanisms to the hypertension. 6 Recent studies have linked TxA 2 or the PG endoperoxides to the mechanisms of angiotensin-induced hypertension. For example, a blocker of TXA2/PG endoperoxide receptors was reported to lower the blood pressure of rats made hypertensive by chronic angiotensin II...