Effect of Losartan on Vascular Function in Fructose-Fed Rats: The Role of Perivascular Adipose Tissue

Abstract

Recent studies have shown the effect of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) on the regulation of vascular function; however, its role in the model of metabolic syndrome remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of losartan on PVAT-derived vascular dysfunction in fructose-induced hypertensive rats. Rats were fed with either water, 10% fructose, or 10% fructose with 10mg/kg losartan for 8 weeks. In the isolated aorta with PVAT and endothelium, contraction induced by norepinephrine (NE) was more potent in fructose-fed rats compared to control rats. Losartan normalized blood pressure, insulin resistance, and NE-induced vasoconstriction in fructose-fed rats. In the aortic rings with/without endothelium and with/without PVAT, losartan could not improve the acetylcholine-induced relaxation in fructose-fed rats. The observation suggested that losartan partly improved the PVAT-associated vascular regulation in fructose-induced hypertensive rats.

Keywords:

• losartan
• perivascular adipose tissue
• vascular function
• hypertension
• fructose

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grant HIM/2006/040 from Hospital Infantíl de México Federico Gómez. The authors thank Guadalupe Gazcón Morales and Gerardo Rivera for their technical assistance.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.