The effect of ozone on blood pressure in DOCA-salt-induced hypertensive rats

Background: Hypertension is a risk factor for the cardiovascular diseases. Ozone as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of several disorders. We aimed to observe the effects of ozone on the blood pressure in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Methods: Twenty three young Sprague Dawley male rats were divided into three groups; Control (C), Hypertension (H) and Hypertension + Ozone (HO). Hypertension was induced by injection of DOCA-salt (25 mg/kg, s.c.) twice weekly, 4 weeks, whereas intraperitoneal ozone was administered (1.1 mg/kg) for 10 days. Serum endothelin-1, nitric oxide and renin levels were measured with ELISA. Blood pressures were monitored using a tail cuff system. Endothelin-1, ET receptor A and ET receptor B mRNA expression in heart and vascular tissue were assessed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: Blood pressure, serum endo­thelin-1 and ET receptor A mRNA expression levels were increased in H group, whereas serum renin, nitric oxide and ET receptor B mRNA expression levels in the heart and vascular tissue decreased compared with C and HO groups, which were counteracted by ozone treatment. Conclusion: Ozone treatment decreases blood pressure and is effective in preventing the progression of hypertensive disease, the mechanisms of which are associated with anti-vasoconstrictor effects through reducing the levels of serum endothelin-1 and ET receptor A mRNA expression in the heart and vascular tissue. © 2015, E-Century Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.