Protection Against Ischemia and Improvement of Cerebral Blood Flow in Genetically Hypertensive Rats by Chronic Pretreatment With an Angiotensin II AT ₁ Antagonist

Abstract

Angiotensin II system inhibition protects against neuronal injury more effectively than calcium channel blockade. Protection after AT(1) receptor blockade is not directly correlated with blood pressure reduction but with normalization of MCA media thickness, leading to increased arterial compliance and reduced CBF decrease during ischemia at the periphery of the lesion.