Effects of losartan, a nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor antagonist, on cardiac hypertrophy and the tissue angiotensin II content in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract Losartan, a recently developed nonpeptide angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor antagonist, was administered orally to 10-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) for 2 weeks. Cardiac weight and tissue Ang II, as well as plasma renin activity (PRA) and Ang II, were determined. Treatment with Losartan (10 mg/kg per day) lowered blood pressure markedly. Losartan reduced significantly the left ventricular weight by 11% compared with control rats. The left ventricular Ang II content was lowered by Losartan (18.6 ± 0.9 pg/tissue; 21.9 ± 0.9 pg/tissue, c control, p