Metyrapone-induced cardiovascular degenerative changes in non-arteriosclerotic and arteriosclerotic rats. 1978

B C Wexler, and B P Greenberg

Virgin and breeder, male and female, Sprague-Dawley rats were unilaterally nephrectomized and given 1% saline drinking water. Animals were injected i.p., twice daily, with a 10 mg/100 g body wt dose of the 11-beta hydroxylation inhibitor, Metyrapone. After 7 weeks of treatment, both the previously nonarteriosclerotic virgin rats and the breeder rats with pre-existing arteriosclerosis developed de nove, widely distributed, intimal hyalinization of their peripheral arteries along with myocardial fibrosis and hyalinization of their intramyocardial coronary arteries. The Metyrapone-treated animals developed severe hypertension with greatly elevated serum creatin phosphokinase, glucose, BUN and cholesterol levels. The adrenal glands, hearts, and kidneys were greatly hypertrophied, in keeping with Metyrapone-induced extra ACTH release and the hypertension-induced myocardial and renal histopathology. Uniparous, Metyrapone-treated, female rats manifested an unusually high incidence of saccular aneurysms of the aorta. It is suggested that the hypertension and the intimal hyalinization and other specific morphologic characteristics of the cardiovascular degenerative changes observed were directly related to excess production of mineralocorticoids, e.g., deoxycorticosterone.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006973 Hypertension Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more. Blood Pressure, High,Blood Pressures, High,High Blood Pressure,High Blood Pressures
D008055 Lipids A generic term for fats and lipoids, the alcohol-ether-soluble constituents of protoplasm, which are insoluble in water. They comprise the fats, fatty oils, essential oils, waxes, phospholipids, glycolipids, sulfolipids, aminolipids, chromolipids (lipochromes), and fatty acids. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Lipid
D008297 Male Males
D008797 Metyrapone An inhibitor of the enzyme STEROID 11-BETA-MONOOXYGENASE. It is used as a test of the feedback hypothalamic-pituitary mechanism in the diagnosis of CUSHING SYNDROME. Methbipyranone,Methopyrapone,Metopiron,Metopirone,Métopirone,SU 4885
D009929 Organ Size The measurement of an organ in volume, mass, or heaviness. Organ Volume,Organ Weight,Size, Organ,Weight, Organ
D001806 Blood Urea Nitrogen The urea concentration of the blood stated in terms of nitrogen content. Serum (plasma) urea nitrogen is approximately 12% higher than blood urea nitrogen concentration because of the greater protein content of red blood cells. Increases in blood or serum urea nitrogen are referred to as azotemia and may have prerenal, renal, or postrenal causes. (From Saunders Dictionary & Encyclopedia of Laboratory Medicine and Technology, 1984) BUN,Nitrogen, Blood Urea,Urea Nitrogen, Blood
D001835 Body Weight The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms. Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D002318 Cardiovascular Diseases Pathological conditions involving the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM including the HEART; the BLOOD VESSELS; or the PERICARDIUM. Adverse Cardiac Event,Cardiac Events,Major Adverse Cardiac Events,Adverse Cardiac Events,Cardiac Event,Cardiac Event, Adverse,Cardiac Events, Adverse,Cardiovascular Disease,Disease, Cardiovascular,Event, Cardiac
D003900 Desoxycorticosterone A steroid metabolite that is the 11-deoxy derivative of CORTICOSTERONE and the 21-hydroxy derivative of PROGESTERONE 21-Hydroxyprogesterone,Cortexone,Deoxycorticosterone,Desoxycortone,11-Decorticosterone,21-Hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione,11 Decorticosterone,21 Hydroxy 4 pregnene 3,20 dione,21 Hydroxyprogesterone
D005260 Female Females

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