Folic acid restores endothelial function in ACTH-induced hypertension

Publication date: Available online 18 December 2015 Source:Bulletin of Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University Author(s): Ibrahim Elmadbouh, Mahmoud Elodemi, Mohamed Nabih, Safa Elfiky, Adel Omar Hypertension is associated with increased oxidative stress and vascular endothelium dysfunction. The aim was to study the effect of folic acid (FA) on hypertension, blood nitric oxide (NO), homocysteine (HCY), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH); aortic tissue glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD); and vascular endothelial function in adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-induced hypertension rats. Rats were treated with saline or FA alone (0.04g/L/day orally, control), or subcutaneous ACTH-induced hypertension (0.2mg/kg/day, ACTH) groups. Treated FA groups were started before (Folic–ACTH, prevention) and during (ACTH–Folic, reversal) ACTH administrations. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), thymus/body weight ratio, blood urea, creatinine, NO, HCY, MDA and GSH; aortic endothelium-dependent vasodilator (EDD) in response to acetylcholine (ACh), aortic tissue extract for CAT, GPx, and SOD activity; and histopathological changes of aorta and kidney were assessed. Saline or FA alone did not change SBP (P > 0.05). FA, in prevention study, significantly decreased SBP, increased serum NO and GSH, enhanced relaxation response (EDD%) to 1×10−4 M ACh; increased aortic tissue GPx, CAT and SOD activity, also revealed nearly n...
Source: Bulletin of Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research