Individual and combined effects of verapamil or trandolapril on attenuating hypertensive glomerulopathic changes in the stroke-prone rat.

Previous studies have demonstrated differences in the progression to glomerulosclerosis with the use of calcium channel blockers (CCB). The results with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are more consistent. Moreover, only two studies have examined the combined effects of these drug classes on the development of glomerulosclerosis. The aim of the study presented here was to test the hypothesis that nonhypotensive doses of the combination (VT) of a nondihydropyridine CCB, verapamil (V), and an ACE-inhibitor, trandolapril (T), will slow the development of glomerulosclerosis better than either agent alone in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). SHRSP were randomized to treatment in one of three groups with nonhypotensive doses of these agents; a fourth group served as control (C). The control rats developed significant increases in proteinuria compared with the other groups (C, 190 +/- 35 mg.kg-1.d-1 versus VT, 19 +/- 12 mg.kg-1.d-1; P