INFLUENCE OF CHRONIC HYPERTENSION ON INJURED AND UN-INJURED ARTERIES IN SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 43  (6) , 535-541
Abstract
The influence of chronic essential hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) on uninjured and deendothelialized arteries was investigated in 2 models of arterial endothelial injury (aortic balloon and carotid air injury). SHR rendered normotensive with antihypertensive medication (hydralazine, reserpine and furosemide), normotensive Wistar rats and Wistar rats treated with antihypertensive drugs served as controls. In uninjured vessels, slight intimal thickening and marked medial thickening were found in SHR but not controls. In injured vessels, endothelial regeneration was similar in SHR and controls. Intimal thickening due to smooth muscle cell proliferation was markedly enhanced in SHR compared to drug-treated SHR; medial thickening in the injured vessels of SHR did not change over the time interval studied. Administration of drug to normotensive Wistar rats did not affect myointimal or medial thickening. Acute arterial endothelial injury in chronically hypertensive rats produces marked myointimal thickening that can be controlled with antihypertensive medication.