Inhibitory effect of idebenone (CV-2619), a novel compound, on vascular lesions in hypertensive rats

The effects of a novel compound, 6-(10-hydroxydecyl)-2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone (idebenone, CV-2619), on cerebral and renal vascular changes were examined in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and in rats with experimentally induced hypertension. CV-2619 (35 mg/kg/day, p.o.) significantly inhibited the onset of cerebrovascular lesions (stroke) and the elevation of blood pressure in SHRSP with mild hypertension. A higher dose (2 X 50 mg/kg/day, p.o.) clearly delayed the onset of both stroke and proteinuria without any effect on the blood pressure in SHRSP with severe hypertension. In DOCA-salt hypertensive rats, CV-2619 (2 X 5 or 2 X 25 mg/kg/day, p.o.) dose-dependently inhibited decreases in body weight and water balance and the development of cerebral and renal vascular changes. These results suggest that CV-2619 inhibits the development of stroke and renal vascular lesions in hypertensive rats.