Effect of felodipine on myocardial and renal injury induced by aldosterone-high salt hypertension in uninephrectomized rats

It has been recently shown that calcium channel blockers might have a protective effect on cardiac fibrogenesis induced by aldosterone. The objective of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of felodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, against heart and kidney damage caused by aldosterone-high sodium intake in uninephrectomized rats. Wistar rats were divided into three groups: CNEP (uninephrectomized + 1 percent NaCl in the drinking water, N = 9); ALDO (same as CNEP group plus continuous infusion of 0.75 µg/h aldosterone, N = 12); ALDOF (same as ALDO group plus 30 mg·kg-1·day-1 felodipine in the drinking water, N = 10). All results were compared with those of age-matched, untreated rats (CTL group, N = 10). After 6 weeks, tail cuff blood pressure was recorded and the rats were killed for histological analysis. Blood pressure (mmHg) was significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in ALDO (180 ± 20) and ALDOF (168 ± 13) compared to CTL (123 ± 12) and CNEP (134 ± 13). Heart damage (lesion scores - median and interquartile range) was 7.0 (5.5-8.0) in ALDO and was fully prevented in ALDOF (1.5; 1.0-2.0). Also, left ventricular collagen volume fraction ( percent) in ALDOF (2.9 ± 0.5) was similar to CTL (2.9 ± 0.5) and CNEP (3.4 ± 0.4) and decreased compared to ALDO (5.1 ± 1.6). Felodipine partially prevented kidney injury since the damage score for ALDOF (2.0; 2.0-3.0) was significantly decreased compared to ALDO (7.5; 4.0-10.5), although higher than CTL (null score). Felodipine has a protective effect on the myocardium and kidney as evidenced by decreased perivascular inflammation, myocardial necrosis and fibrosis.

Myocardial collagen remodeling and left ventricular diastolic function

1. The myocardial collagen matrix is an active participant in determining ventricular architecture and diastolic function, and myocardial structural integrity and mechanical properties. It consists of a network of fibrillar collagen which is intimately related with the myocyte, myofibril and muscle fiber as well as the coronary vasculature. Consisting primarily of collagen types I and III, this material exhibits a high tensile strength which, even though normally present in relatively small amounts, plays an important role in the behavior of the ventricle during diastole. 2. Removal of less than half of the normal amount of collagen results in a dilated ventricle with increased compliance. Collagen degradation of this magnitude and similar myocardial and ventricle with increased compliance. Collagen degradation of this magnitude and similar myocardial and ventricular histologic and functional alterations are evident during ischemia and in dilated cardiomyopathy. Thus, it would appear that a chronic change in the shape and size of the heart must be preceded by alterations in the interstitial collagen matrix. 3. With elevations in the circulating levels of angiotensin and/or mineralocorticoids, the hypertrophic response of the myocardium to the accompanying hypertension includes a progressive remodeling of the collagen component. Typically there is an increase in collagen concentration, thickening of existing fibrillar collagen and the addition of new collagen at all levels of the matrix. The consequences of this remodeling are an adverse alteration of the passive mechanical properties of the myocardium and LV diastolic dysfunction. This pathophysiologic aspect of the hypertrophic process is independent of the concomitant remodeling of the myocyte.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)