ACE inhibition and the vascular intima in hypertension

Both the function and the morphology of the vascular intima are altered during hypertension. In spontaneously hypertensive rats, endothelium-dependent relaxation is decreased, and the subendothelium becomes infiltrated with monocyte macrophages. It is not known if these two features are secondary to high blood pressure and what their consequences are; however, both can be reversed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. The present paper summarizes the effects of a chronic treatment with the ACE inhibitor cilazapril on endothelial function and subendothelial morphology in spontaneously hypertensive rats.