Aldosterone-induced hypertension: effects of a kininase inhibitor

A synthetic orally active angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitor Captopril (Squibb), (D-2-methyl-3-mercaptopropanoyl-L-Proline), was administered to three groups of hypertensive animals. The animals were made hypertensive by uninephrectomy, daily injections of 5 ug/100 g body weight d-aldosterone (Sigma) in wheat germ oil and substitution of 0.9% NaCl for the drinking water. Captopril was given to pregnant and nonpregnant animals during the developmental phase of hypertension and to nonpregnant animals with established (4 weeks of treatment) hypertension. The agent attenuated the hypertension in both the pregnant and nonpregnant animals when given while hypertension was developing. Captopril was effective in reducing established aldosterone-NaCl hypertension to normotensive levels.