Potential Role of Vitamin D3 Compared with Rho-Kinase Inhibitor (Fasudil) on L-NAME – Induced Hypertension in Rabbits

Cardiovascular function is mainly controlled by the reninangiotensin system, which affects blood vessel tone. Inappropriate activation of the renin-angiotensin system can lead to hypertension. In light of emerging evidence of a widespread global problem of vitamin D deficiency, there has been increasing interest concerning the role of vitamin D in hypertension. Little attention has been paid to the effect of Rho-kinase inhibitor on increased Angiotensin II and the vascular dysfunction of nitric oxide-deficient hypertension. This study aimed to investigate whether the Rho-kinase inhibitor showed beneficial effect on the vascular dysfunction of the NG-NitroL-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) induced hypertension in rabbits, as well as to compare the differential effects of fasudil and Vitamin D on vascular function. Rabbits were divided into five groups; Control, L-NAME, Fasudil, Vitamin D and combination of fasudil and vitamin D. Blood pressure, Biochemical analysis including; NO, GSH, MDA, HDL, LDL, TG, Total cholesterol and LDH were estimated. Pathological study including; Ventricular/Total body weigh ratio, histopathological study of the aorta and ventricular muscles was done. It was found that chronic NOS inhibition not only induced hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy, but also impaird the vascular function. Vitamin D exhibited higher antihypertensive, antihyperlipedimic and antioxidant activity, improved the attenuated vasoconstriction, and possessed a greater beneficial effect on aortic thickness than rho-kinase inhibitor.