Simvastatin and losartan enhance nitric oxide and reduce oxidative stress in salt-induced hypertension

Background: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and oxidative stress play a major role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Methods: We examined the effects of simvastatin, an HMG-CoA inhibitor, and losartan, an angiotensin type 1 receptor antagonist, in Dahl rats fed a high salt diet (8% NaCl), and treated with either simvastatin (3 mg/kg/d), losartan (10 mg/kg/d), or their combination using the drinking water as vehicle, for 3 weeks. Mean blood pressure (MAP) was measured by tail-cuff plethysmography. Plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO) and prostanoids, as well as plasma and tissue angiotensin 11 (Ang II) and aldosterone (ALDO) were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay. Renal and aortic superoxide production was determined by fluorescence spectrometry. Vascular reactivity of secondorder mesenteric arteries was assessed in vitro. Results: Simvastatin, losartan, and the drug combination attenuated the salt-induced increase in MAP. Plasma NO was elevated by simvastatin, losartan, and the combination, whereas plasma thromboxane was reduced by lo-sartan. Simvastatin, losartan, and the combination reduced renal Ang II, but only the combination reduced cardiac Ang H. Heart and renal ALDO were reduced by simvastatin, losartan, and the combination. Aortic and renal NADPH-dependent superoxide production was reduced by simvastatin, losartan, and the combination. The response to acetylcholine, in mesenteric arteries preconstricted with norepinephrine, was greater in the losartan group. Conclusions: Thus, treatment with simvastatin and losartan lowered oxidative stress and improved endothelial function. Simvastatin significantly reduced the effect of losartan on vascular reactivity in mesenteric arteries, suggesting that their combination may be contraindicated. Am J Hypertens 2005;18:1496-1502 (c) 2005 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd.