The renin-angiotensin system and volume overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats. Effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor versus angiotensin II receptor blocker.

Abstract

The development of volume overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy is associated with significant increases in PRA and cardiac renin activity shortly after induction of an aortocaval shunt. Whereas the two blockers of the renin-angiotensin system decreased LVEDP to a similar extent, only the angiotensin II receptor blocker blunted the hypertrophic response of the heart to volume overload, which is indicative for other than hemodynamic determinants of the cardiac hypertrophic response. One trophic factor may be cardiac angiotensin II generated via an angiotensin II-forming enzyme resistant to ACEI and possibly activated by cardiac volume overload.