Pathological activation of the renin-angiotensin system and
inflammation are associated with
hypertension and the development of
metabolic syndrome (MetS). The contributions of
angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT1) activation, independent of blood pressure, and
inflammation to
glucose intolerance and renal damage are not well defined. Using a rat model of MetS, we hypothesized that the onset of
glucose intolerance is primarily mediated by AT1 activation and
inflammation independent of elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP). To address this hypothesis, we measured changes in SBP, adiposity, plasma
glucose and
triglyceride levels, and
glucose tolerance in six groups of rats: 1) lean, strain control Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO; n = 5), 2) obese Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF; n = 8), 3) OLETF +
angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB; 10 mg
olmesartan/kg; n = 8), 4) OLETF +
tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitor (ETAN; 1.25 mg
etanercept/kg; n = 6), 5) OLETF + TNF-α inhibitor +
angiotensin receptor blocker (ETAN+ARB; 1.25 mg
etanercept/kg + 10 mg
olmesartan/kg; n = 6), and 6) OLETF +
calcium channel blocker (CCB; 5 mg
amlodipine/kg; n = 7). ARB and ETAN+ARB were most effective at decreasing SBP in OLETF, and ETAN did not offer any additional reduction.
Glucose tolerance improved in ARB, ETAN, and ETAN+ARB compared with OLETF, whereas CCB had no detectable effect. Furthermore, all treatments reduced adiposity, whereas ETAN alone normalized urinary
albumin excretion. These results suggest that AT1 activation and
inflammation are primary factors in the development of
glucose intolerance in a setting of MetS and that the associated increase in SBP is primarily mediated by AT1 activation.