The effect of propranolol on aortic structure and function in normotensive rats.

Abstract

Long-term propranolol administration elicits an increase in PWV adjusted for aortic pressure. This may be related to accumulation of collagen in the aortic wall at the expense of smooth muscle cells. The aortic stiffening may explain some of the reported data, suggesting that the effect of β-blockade therapy in patients with arterial hypertension may be inferior to other pharmacologic agents.