Aortic Cell Apoptosis in Rat Primary Aldosteronism Model

This study aimed to determine whether aldosterone could induce vascular cell apoptosis in vivo.Thirty-two male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:vehicle(control),aldosterone,aldosterone plus eplerenone or hydralazine.They were then implanted with an osmotic mini-pump that infused either aldosterone or the vehicle.Systolic blood pressure(SBP) was measured weekly by the tail-cuff method.After 8 weeks,plasma aldosterone concentration(PAC) and renin activity(PRA) were determined by radioimmunoassay.Aorti...