Beneficial Effects of Valsartan on Renovascular Hypertension in Rats via Nitric Oxide Preserving and Antioxidant Effects

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of valsartan, an angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor blocker, on lipid profile, nitric oxide and antioxidant parameters in renovascular hypertension induced in rats by clipping the left renal artery. Sham-operated rats served as control. Four weeks after left renal artery ligation, hypertensive rats were treated with valsartan (5mg/kg/day, oral gavage) for 45 days. Compared with untreated hypertensive rats, valsartan treatment in hypertensive rats significantly reduced blood pressure with non significant change in serum levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Valsartan increased significantly serum nitric oxide levels and prevented the decrease in glutathione content and superoxide dismutase enzyme activity in the aorta in treated hypertensive rats compared with untreated hypertensive group. These results suggest that valsartan in addition to its blood pressure–lowering properties, may also have beneficial effects on antioxidant parameters and endothelial function in experimental model of renovascular hypertension.