Effect of long-term antihypertensive treatment on cerebrovascular structure and function in hypertensive rats.

Scientific reports 2023 Mar 01

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Midlife hypertension is an important risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. We investigated the effects of long-term treatment with two classes of antihypertensive drugs to determine whether diverging mechanisms of blood pressure lowering impact the brain differently. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were either left untreated or treated with a calcium channel blocker (amlodipine) or beta blocker (atenolol) until one year of age. The normotensive Wistar Kyoto rat (WKY) was used as a reference group. Both drugs lowered blood pressure equally, while only atenolol decreased heart rate. Cerebrovascular resistance was increased in SHR, which was prevented by amlodipine but not atenolol. SHR showed a larger carotid artery diameter with impaired pulsatility, which was prevented by atenolol. Cerebral arteries demonstrated inward remodelling, stiffening and endothelial dysfunction in SHR. Both treatments similarly improved these parameters. MRI revealed that SHR have smaller brains with enlarged ventricles. In addition, neurofilament light levels were increased in cerebrospinal fluid of SHR. However, neither treatment affected these parameters. In conclusion, amlodipine and atenolol both lower blood pressure, but elicit a different hemodynamic profile. Both medications improve cerebral artery structure and function, but neither drug prevented indices of brain damage in this model of hypertension. © 2023. The Author(s).

Citation

Daphne M P Naessens, Judith de Vos, Edo Richard, Micha M M Wilhelmus, Cornelis A M Jongenelen, Edwin R Scholl, Nicole N van der Wel, Johannes A Heijst, Charlotte E Teunissen, Gustav J Strijkers, Bram F Coolen, Ed VanBavel, Erik N T P Bakker. Effect of long-term antihypertensive treatment on cerebrovascular structure and function in hypertensive rats. Scientific reports. 2023 Mar 01;13(1):3481