The Effects Of Captopril And Valsartan On The Expression Of C-Reactive Protein In Rabbit Atherosclerotic Myocardium

Objective To observe the level of angiotensinⅡ(AngⅡ) in plasma and thelocal expression of myocardial C-reactive protein (CRP); to probe into theinfluence of AngⅡon CRP in myocardium and the effects of decreasingmyocardial inflammation after captopril and valsartan block AngⅡon variouslevels. Methods Thirty male New Zealand white rabbits were divided intofour groups randomly: (A group) cholesterol group, (B group) cholesterol +captopril treated group, (C group) cholesterol + valsartan treated group and (Dgroup) control group. After 10 weeks, AngⅡ level of plasma was evaluated byradioimmunoassay. The heart and liver were harvested forimmunohistochemistry measure of CRP. Result Compared with control group,AngⅡlevel of plasma in A group increased significantly (1596.97±115.83 vs86.18±6.36 pg/ml, P<0.0001). Captopril reduced significantly AngⅡ(386.00±56.61 vs 1596.97±115.83 pg/ml, P<0.0001), but the level of AngⅡwassignificantly higher than that of control group (386.00±56.61 vs 86.18±6.36pg/ml, P<0.0001). Valsartan did not have effects on AngⅡ(1625.00±123.25vs 1596.97±115.83 pg/ml, P>0.05). Compared with control group, theexpression of myocardial CRP in A group increased significantly (χ2=13.30,P < 0.005). Captopril and valsartan decreased significantly the level ofmyocardial CRP (χ2=8.50, P<0.05; χ2=9.72, P<0.025). There were notdifference between the two groups and control group (χ2=0.69, P>0.05; χ2=0.83, P>0.05). Captopril and valsartan had identical effects on reducingmyocardial CRP (χ2=0.00085, P>0.05). After eliminating the data ofvalsartan group, the expression of myocardial CRP correlated positively with theAngⅡ level of plasma (rs=0.804, P<0.0001). There were not difference inexpression of hepatic CRP among the four groups (P>0.05). ConclusionPlasma AngⅡcorrelated positvely with the expression of myocardial CRP.Captopril or valsartan could reduce myocardial CRP by inhibiting theproduction of AngⅡor blocking the acceptor of AngⅡ,decrease inflammatorymyocardial injury of atherosclerosis. There were not difference in the effects onreducing myocardial CRP between captopril group and valsartan group. Theinfluence of AngⅡon myocardial CRP was more significant than on hepaticCRP.