Effects of captopril on expression of calcineurin and NF-κB p65 in the heart of hypertensive rats

AIM: To study the effect of captopril on calcineurin and NF-κB p65 in the signal transduction pathway of the cardiovascular remodeling in hypertensive rats. METHODS: Using a animal model of hypertension induced by abdominal aortic banding, the rats were treated with captopril for 10 weeks. The blood pressure was observed with a tail cuff method. The heart weight and heart weight/body weight were measured. The expression of calcineurin and NF-κB p65 were studied by using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: After treated with captopril, the blood pressure of the model rats was decreased (P<0.01), the heart weight or heart weight/body weight were also decreased (P<0.01). The calcineurin and NF-κB p65 protein overexpression was down-regulated, NF-κB-positive area and area percentage were reduced in the heart of hypertensive rats (P<0.01，P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Captopril reverses the cardiovascular remodeling by affecting the overexpression of calcineurin and NF-κB p65 involved in the cardiovascular remodeling in hypertensive rats.