Long-term protective effects of nitrendipine in experimental hypertension.

The antihypertensive and tissue-protective effects of nitrendipine were studied after long-term treatment of rats with experimental hypertension. Nitrendipine had opposite effects in comparison with vasodilators like hydralazine or minoxidil. Nitrendipine lowered heart weights, plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels, and plasma renin activity, and was diuretic. Also, in spontaneously hypertensive rats that had been hypertensive for more than half of their life span prior to treatment, nitrendipine still had these effects. Nitrendipine prevented hypertension-induced mortality, even at subantihypertensive doses. Nitrendipine inhibited endothelin-1-induced DNA synthesis in isolated vascular smooth muscle cells as well as atherosclerotic plaque formation in cholesterol-fed rats.