Effects of telmisartan on myocardial fibrosis and expression of connective tissue growth factor in renovascular hypertensive rats

Objective To investigate the effects of telmisarta n on myocardial fibrosis and connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) in renovascular hypertensive (RH) rats. Methods RH models were established in 24 rats. rats w ere randomly divided into sham group, RH group and telmisartan group. Four weeks after, rats in telmisartan group were administered telmisartan 30-mg·kg -1·d -1 for 8 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured. Co llagen volume fraction (CVF), perivascular collagen area(PVCA),CTGF and TGF-2? ? expression in l eft ventri cular tissue were calculated. Results Compared with sham grou p, The SBP,CVF,PVCA,CTGF and TGF-β 1 expression increased markedly in RH group (P0.01). Compared with the RH group, CVF,PVCA, CTGF and TGF- β 1 expression decreased in RH group (P0.05). Conclusions Telmisartan could inhibit the development of myocardial fibrosis i n renovascular hypertensive rats. It was probably related to the decrease exp ression of cardiacal CTGF.