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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Improved Renal Denervation Mitigated Hypertension Induced by Angiotensin II Infusion
Published on: May 26, 2022
Renin-Angiotensin system suppression mitigates experimental radiation pneumonitis
Swarajit N Ghosh1, Rong Zhang, Brian L Fish
1Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. snghosh@mcw.edu
Purpose:
To find the mitigators of pneumonitis induced by moderate doses of thoracic radiation (10-15 Gy).
Methods And Materials:
Unanesthetized WAG/RijCmcr female rats received a single dose of X-irradiation (10, 12, or 15 Gy at 1.615 Gy/min) to the thorax. Captopril (an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) or losartan (an angiotensin receptor blocker) was administered in the drinking water after irradiation. Pulmonary structure and function were assessed after 8 weeks in randomly selected rats by evaluating the breathing rate, ex vivo vascular reactivity, and histopathologic findings. Survival analysis was undertaken on all animals, except those scheduled for death.
Results:
Survival after a dose of 10 Gy to the thorax was not different from that of unirradiated rats for
Conclusion:
In rats, a moderate thoracic radiation dose induced pneumonitis and morbidity. These injuries were mitigated by captopril even when it was begun 1 week after radiation or if discontinued 5 weeks after exposure. Losartan was less effective in protecting against radiation-induced changes in vascular reactivity or tachypnea.
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