Beneficial interactions between pharmacological, pathophysiological and hypertension research

The treatment of essential hypertension continues to be carried out by drugs, combined with the adaptation of life style. The development of various types of antihypertensive drugs has not only greatly improved the management of hypertension, but also offered significant methodological sophistication of the pharmacological and pathophysiological sciences. Antihypertensive drugs and related experimental agents have been widely used in pharmaco-logical and pathophysiological research. The beneficial effects of such agents will be illustrated by means of several examples, emphasizing the sympathetic nervous system, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and calcium homeostasis as major targets. As pharmacological tools, which are also antihypertensives, we discuss various types of centrally acting antihypertensives, ganglionic and peripheral neuronal blocking agents, alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors, renin-inhibitors, angiotensin II-receptor antagonists (AT1-blockers) and calcium antagonists. Finally, a few remarks will be made concerning the beneficial therapeutic effects of classic and newer antihypertensive drugs, such as beta-blockers, diuretics, calcium antagonists, ACE-inhibitors and AT1-blockers.