RÉSUMÉ
The present study aimed to clarify the effects of Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 (i.e., Agaricus blazei) mushroom on circulatory function. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were fed 10% A. blazei-containing pellets (agaricus group) or normal pellets (control group) for 5 weeks from 6 to 11 weeks of age. For Experiment 1, tail blood pressure and heart rate were measured in the conscious SHRs. For Experiment 2, echocardiographic and blood biochemical measurements were performed in the anesthetized SHRs. In Experiment 1, blood pressure and heart rate were significantly lower in the agaricus group compared with the control group throughout the observation period. In Experiment 2, the agaricus group also showed a significant decrease in cardiac output accompanied by a decrease in heart rate and an increase in early and late ventricular filling velocity (E/A ratio). Moreover, levels of escape enzymes such as creatine kinase (CK), CK-BB, CK-MB, asparate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and aldolase were significantly lower than in the control group. We concluded that the ingestion of feed containing A. brasiliensis KA21 can improve hypertensive cardiovascular hemodynamics by decreasing the working load of the heart, presumably by lowering the sympathetic nervous tone in SHRs.