Cardiovascular effects of lovastatin in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats

1. Lovastatin (1, 1.5, and 2 mg/kg) decreased systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and did not modify the basal values of blood pressure in normotensive rats. 2. Lovastatin decreased heart rate in a dose-dependent manner, and significant effects were observed in SHRs 180 min after lovastatin administration. 3. Lovastatin did not act as a diuretic drug at any of the doses used. 4. Lovastatin (10(-6) M-3 x 10(-4) M) depresses contractions evoked by KCl (80 mM) in isolated thoracic aorta from SHRs and WRs and had almost no relaxant effects on NA-induced (10(-5) M) contractions. 5. It is concluded that the main antihypertensive mechanism of lovastatin is due to the relaxation of rat aorta by inhibiting Ca2+ influx through voltage sensitive calcium channels. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.