PPARγ Agonist Rosiglitazone Improves Vascular Function and Lowers Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Transgenic Mice

The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPARγ) agonist rosiglitazone has been reported to yield cardiovascular benefits in patients by a mechanism that is not completely understood. We tested whether oral rosiglitazone (25 mg/kg per day, 21 days) treatment improves blood pressure and vascular function in a transgenic mouse expressing both human renin and human angiotensinogen transgenes (R + A + ). Rosiglitazone decreased systolic (138±5 versus 128±5 mm Hg) and mean blood pressure (145±5 versus 126±7 mm Hg) of R + A + mice as measured by tail-cuff and indwelling carotid catheters, respectively. Relaxation of carotid arteries to acetylcholine and authentic nitric oxide, but not papaverine, was impaired in R + A + mice when compared with littermate controls (RA − ). There were no effects of rosiglitazone on RA − mice; however, relaxation to acetylcholine (49±10 versus 82±9% at 100 μmol/L) and nitric oxide (51±11 versus 72±6% at 10 μmol/L) was significantly improved in treated R + A + mice. Rosiglitazone treatment of R + A + mice did not alter the expression of genes, including endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), angiotensin 1 receptors, and preproendothelin-1, nor did it alter the levels of eNOS or soluble guanylyl cyclase protein. In separate studies, carotid arteries from R + A + and RA − mice relaxed in a concentration-dependent manner to rosiglitazone, suggesting possible PPARγ-independent effects in the vasculature. This response was not inhibited with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N ω -nitro- l -arginine methyl ester (200 μmol/L) or the PPARγ antagonist bisphenol A diglycidyl ether; 4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol diglycidyl ether (100 μmol/L). These data suggest that in addition to potential genomic regulation caused by PPARγ activation, the direct effect of rosiglitazone in blood vessels may contribute to the improved blood pressure and vessel function.