Antifibrotic effect of captopril and enalapril on paraquat-induced lung fibrosis in rats.

Abstract

Although different treatment modalities have been implemented for pulmonary fibrosis, the results have not been promising and these conditions have been considered untreatable and irreversible. Thus, a plethora of new drugs has been tried for the control of this condition in recent years. This study examined the effects of two angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, captopril and enalapril, on paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats, through biochemical and histopathological parameters. Male albino Wistar rats were divided into eight groups (n = 4-5 each), including control, paraquat, captopril alone, captopril treatment and pre-treatment, enalapril alone, enalapril treatment and pre-treatment. After 21 days of treatment, the lungs were removed and the levels of hydroxyproline, glutathione and lipid peroxidation were determined. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors showed no effect on glutathione and lipid peroxidation. The results also demonstrated that captopril and enalapril improved pulmonary fibrosis as shown by histopathology, as well as a decreased content of hydroxyproline (P < 0.001) in the lung tissue. In conclusion, the present findings suggest that the antifibrotic effect of these drugs may be related to the inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme.

• Authors: Mahmoud Ghazi-Khansari, Ali Mohammadi-Karakani, Masoud Sotoudeh, Parvin Mokhtary, Ebraheim Pour-Esmaeil, Shirin Maghsoud
• Journal: Journal of applied toxicology : JAT (J Appl Toxicol) 2007 Jul-Aug Vol. 27 Issue 4 Pg. 342-9 ISSN: 0260-437X [Print] England
• PMID: 17265423 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chemical References

• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
• Herbicides
• Enalapril
• Collagen
• Captopril
• Glutathione
• Paraquat
• Hydroxyproline

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Animals
• Captopril (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Collagen (metabolism)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Enalapril (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Glutathione (metabolism)
• Herbicides (administration & dosage, toxicity)
• Hydroxyproline (metabolism)
• Injections, Intraperitoneal
• Lipid Peroxidation (drug effects)
• Lung (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Paraquat (administration & dosage, toxicity)
• Pulmonary Alveoli (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Pulmonary Fibrosis (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome