Long-term antihypertensive effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide LAP.

OBJECTIVE To study the antihypertensive effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory peptide LAP on blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). METHODS A cohort of 12-week-old SHRs was randomly divided into 2 distinct groups, and ACE-inhibitory peptide LAP (experimental group) or physiological saline (controls) were administered. Caudal arterial blood pressure was then measured at specific time points (0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks). RESULTS Systolic blood pressure of the SHRs showed a significant decrease after intraperitoneal injection with the ACE-inhibitory peptide LAP. Moreover, this depressurization effect lasted for over 1 month. CONCLUSION Systolic blood pressure of SHRs could effectively be depressed in the long term by antihypertensive activity mediated by the ACE-inhibitory peptide LAP.