Objective: We studied the vasoconstrictor effects of the thromboxane A2 (TxA2) analogue U46619 in the perfused hind limb of rats under constant flow before and after intravenous injection of irbesartan, an angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonist, to test whether irbesartan interacts in vivo with the thromboxane A2/prostaglandin endoperoxidase H2 (TxA2/PGH2) receptor.
Design: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 15, body weight 350-420 g) were anesthetized with thiobutabarbital sodium (Inactin, 100 mg/kg intraperitoneally). Regional vascular responses to U46619 (0.5 and 1.0 microg) were investigated in the rat hind quarter under conditions of controlled flow before and after administration of irbesartan (10 mg/kg, intravenously). In addition, to test the specificity of the effect of irbesartan on U46619, phenylephrine (0.5, 1.0 microg) and another AT1 receptor antagonist, candesartan CV11974 (0.3 mg/kg, intravenously) were used.
Results: The dose-dependent increases in hind-limb perfusion pressure produced by U46619 were significantly attenuated by prior injection of irbesartan, at a dose that blocked the angiotensin II (Ang II) pressor responses. The specificity for the response was shown with the demonstrations that the increase in vascular resistance produced by phenylephrine was unchanged by irbesartan and, furthermore, that the increase in vascular resistance produced by U46619 was unchanged by another AT1 receptor antagonist, candesartan.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that irbesartan interacts at the TxA2/PGH2 receptor in the rat's hind limb in vivo, to modify changes in local regional vascular resistance. The dual antagonistic actions of irbesartan, acting at both AT1 and TxA2 receptors in blood vessels, may overall enhance its therapeutic profile in the treatment of hypertension.