ABSTRACT
H. SAITO l<*, S. KIMURA2, M. MINAMI3, H. HAYASHI2, K. SHIMAMURA2, M. NEMOTOl and S. H. PARVEZ4
1 Department of Basic Sciences, Japanese Red Cross Hokkaido College of Nursing, Akebono chou 664-1, Kitami city, 090-0011 Japan
2 Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0212, Japan
3 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0212, Japan
4 Neuroendocrinologie et Neuropharmacologie du Development, CNRS-lnstitut Alfred Fes sard de Neurosciences, IFR 2118, Bat 5, 91190 GifSur Yvette, France
Abstract-The present study was undertaken to elucidate the effects of acute and subacute administration of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on blood pressure in SHRSP between the ages of 6 and 11 weeks. The continuous administration of DHA for 5 weeks in SHRSP significantly inhibited blood pressure rise as compared with levels in non-treated SHRSP. DHA-treated SHRSP showed significantly decreased urinary epinephrine contents as compared with those in non-treated SHRSP. DHAtreated SHRSP produced a significant decrease in adrenal epinephrine concentration as compared with those in non-treated SHRSP at the age of 11 weeks. DHA-treated SHRSP also demonstrated significant decreases in serum triglycerides, LDL and lipid peroxide levels as compared with levels in non-treated SHRSP. However, a single intraperitoneal administration of DHA did not exert any influence on blood pressure in SHRSP at the age of 11 weeks. These findings suggest that the antihypertensive effect induced by a 5-week, continuous administration of DHA appears to be associated with the amelioration of increased sympathoadrenal activity and serum lipid derangement during the developmental stage of hypertension in young SHRSP. The present study clarified that a 5-week, continuous administration of DHA had a protective effect against the development of hypertension in SHRSP.
