Synthesis of collagen in cardiac and vascular walls

Collagen synthesis and content have been shown to be elevated in the arterial wall and heart of hypertensive animals. These increases in collagen synthesis and content have been implicated in the maintenance of raised blood pressure. Inhibitors of collagen synthesis, beta APN and 3,4-dihydroproline, were shown to delay the onset of hypertension and reverse established hypertension. Therapeutic intervention with antihypertensive drugs resulted in a decrease in arterial collagen synthesis and a reversal of cardiac hypertrophy. In some instances (i.e., DOCA-salt), chronic administration of antihypertensive drugs caused a restructuring of the arterial wall and resulted in an apparent remission of the hypertensive disease.