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Blood pressure lowering effect of dietary (−)‐epicatechin in L‐NAME induced hypertension in rats
Author(s) -
Jaggers Grayson,
Celep Gulcin,
Galleano Monica,
Oteiza Patricia,
Fraga Cesar
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.722.21
Subject(s) - nitric oxide , chemistry , oxidative stress , endocrinology , blood pressure , nitrotyrosine , medicine , bioavailability , glutathione , pharmacology , nitric oxide synthase , biochemistry , enzyme
This work focused on the effect of dietary (−)‐epicatechin (EC) supplementation on blood pressure (BP), using a rat model of L‐NAME‐induced hypertension. L‐NAME was administered in drinking water (360 mg/l) and EC was provided in solid diet (1g or 4g EC/kg diet (EC1 or EC4, respectively)). Male Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: Control (C); L‐NAME (L); L‐NAME + EC1/EC4 (LEC1 or LEC4, respectively), kept under the according treatments for 4 days, and BP measured daily by tail‐cuff plethysmography. Rats were euthanized and blood plasma was obtained to determine Nω‐nitroarginine (NA) content, EC levels, oxidative and nitrosative stress parameters. Final BP (mm Hg) was: C= 102±3; L= 143±6*; LEC1= 128±6 # and LEC4= 110±8# (*p<0.05 respect to C; # p<0.05 respect to L). Plasma NA levels increased in L‐NAME treated groups and was not affected by EC. The decrease in BP was associated with improvement in markers of oxidative stress (plasma MDA, oxidized glutathione) and parameters of nitric oxide (NO) production (plasma nitrates+nitrites and protein nitrotyrosine). The findings suggest that an increase in NO bioavailability, as a result of diminished oxidant production, can be one possible medium involved in the BP lowering action of EC in this model of hypertension. Supported by NIH AT2966 and UCDavis CHNR, USA; and ANPCyT (00994) and UBACyT (B801, B80) Argentina. MG and CGF are members of the CIC, CONICET, Argentina.