Effect of endothelin-3 on blood pressure in conscious spontaneously hypertensive [SHR] and DOCA-salt hypertensive rats

The aim of the study was to investigate blood pressure responses and changes in heart rate after bolus administration of endothelin-3 [ET-3] in conscious, freely moving SHR and WKY rats and DOCA-salt hypertensive and normotensive Wistar rats. The effect of ET-3 on blood pressure and heart rats was investigated for four doses equal to 250 ng, 500 ng, 1000 ng and 2000 ng of ET-3. Our study shows that in experimental models of hypertension changes in blood pressure were predominantly characterized by the pronounced hypotensive phase with no significant raises in blood pressure. In normotensive animals cardiovascular responses to ET-3 were biphasic, with initial depressor phase followed by long-lasting, significant pressor effect.