Chinensis lour alkaloids alleviates vascular remodeling in renal hypertensive rats

AIM: To investigate the effect of lobelia chinensis lour alkaloids (LCLAs) on vascular remodeling in renal hypertension.METHODS: The Glodblatt renovascular hypertension model was induced in rats by two-kidney one clip method. The renin activity (PRA) in plasma was determined by radioimmunoassay 8 weeks after the treatments with LCLAs or catoprill. The parameters of vascular remodeling, including media thickness (MT), luminal internal diameter (LD), ratio of MT/LD and ratio of media cross-sectional area to lumen area (MSCA/LA) were measured through the Weigert staining photos of the abdominal aorta. Expressions of collagen and collagen I were measured respectively by the methods of Masson staining and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The PRA was significantly increased in hypertensive rats compared with the sham rats (P<0.05). PRA was significantly reduced in LCLAs group compared to control group. No inhibitory effect on PRA was observed in captopril group. The MT, the ratio of MT/LD, MSCA and the expression of collagen on abdominal aorta were significantly increased in hypertensive rats compared with the sham rats (P<0.05). LCLAs and captopril reduced these parameters raised in hypertensive rats (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The vascular remodeling occurs in renal hypertensive rats. LCLA inhibits the synthesis of the collagen and reduces PRA, which may alleviate the vascular remodeling in hypertensive rats.