Aim and methods: To study the effect of captopril, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, on prevention and treatment of hypertrophy and its mechanism, We made a research on the relationship between the effect of captopril on antihypertrophic and metabolism of catecholamines, oxygen free radicals, cations contents in myocardial tissue.
Results: (1) HW, LVW, HW/BW and LVW/BW of captopril group were significantly lower than hypertrophy group; (2) Captopril effectively prevented the depletion of myocardial NE. DA contents and elevation of E content that occurred in hypertrophy group; (3) Captopril promoted myocardial SOD. GSH-Px activities and decreased LPO content; (4) Captopril significantly prevented the increase of myocardial Na+, Ca2+ contents and the decrease of K+ content.
Conclusion: Captopril may effectively prevent and treat myocardial hypertrophy. The effect of captopril is due to not only inhibiting the metabolism of RAS, but also regulating and improving the metabolism of catecholamines, oxygen free radicals, cations contents in heart.