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Southwest Texas State University

The Angiotensin Receptor (AT₁) Inhibitor, Losartan, Slows Post-Natal Thickening of the Left Ventricle

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The overall aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a local renin angiotensin system (RAS) in the mammalian left ventricle regulates growth of heart tissue in response to pressure-overload. Upon parturition, the mammalian left ventricle (LV) experiences pressure overload to which it responds by rapid growth, becoming thicker than the right ventricle (RV) in a few days. We assessed a role for a cardiac RAS in left ventricular development by giving losartan, an angiotensin IT (AII) AT; receptor antagonist to pregnant rats. Hearts were removed from neonates, fixed and cryosections cut with litter-mates being similarly processed at 24 hour intervals. Micrographs were obtained and morphometric analyses were performed to compare wall thickness in the left and night ventricles during neonatal development. No significant difference was found between the hearts of losartan-treated neonates and non-treated neonates. Losartan, however, inhibited LV wall thickening in treated rats during the first 48 hours of development. These results implicate involvement of the LV AT, receptor. Immunohistochemical detection of angiotensinogen (AQ) in a parallel study of these hearts indicated increased levels in the LV during the first 24 post-natal hours. These results support a role for the cardiac RAS system in controlling LV wall thickness in mammalian heart.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
Masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Biology
Grantor
Southwest Texas State University
Year dc:date.issued
1994

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Javadi, Fariba
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Koke, Joseph R.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Garcia, Dana M.
  • Rose, Francis L.

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
https://hdl.handle.net/10877/19762
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/19762

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Texas State University
Base URL
digital.library.txst.edu/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-27
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Javadi, Fariba. The Angiotensin Receptor (AT₁) Inhibitor, Losartan, Slows Post-Natal Thickening of the Left Ventricle. Masters thesis, Southwest Texas State University, 1994. https://hdl.handle.net/10877/19762