Effect of Losartan with Low Dose Folic Acid on Improving Hemorheology and Vascular Endothelium in Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats

OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy of losartan-Folic acid in hemorheology level and vascular endothelium. METHODS Thirty spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR), aged 12 weeks, enrolled for a randomized controlled trial. Subjects were randomly assigned to the following three groups(n=10)：controlled group (SHR-C), losartan group(SHR-L: 50 mg·kg^-1·d^-1), losartan-Folic group (SHR-L+Y: losartan 25 mg·kg^-1·d^-1+Folic acid 0.4 mg·kg^-1·d^-1), another 10 of the same age Wistar Rats assigned for normal controlled group(WKY-C). Hemorheology was examined after oral administration for 12 weeks. The data was performed analysis of variance and LSD-t. Vessels of mesentery and aorta were stained by HE. The thickness and area of aorta was measured and analyzed by computer. RESULTS The viscosity of whole blood was decreased significantly in SHR-L+Y group compared with SHR-C, P<0.05.There are no obvious difference of hemorheology between SHR-L+Y group and SHR-L group, P>0.05. Effects on plasma viscosity was not significantly different among the four groups. For morphological remodeling in group SHR-L+Y, there are no thickness increased in mesenteric artery and endothelial wall is integrated, aortic tunica intima is smooth, the media cross-sectional area and vessel area of SHR-L+Y compared with group SHR-C was not significantly different, P<0.05. CONCLUSION Losartan-Folic acid could be used to decrease the viscosity, protect vascular endothelium and reversing vascular reconstruction.