The effects of L-name, dexamethasone and L-name + dexamethasone combination on periferic blood pressure in pregnant and non pregnant wistar albino rat

The study investigated the effects of the L-NAME and dexamethasone (DEXA) on blood pressure of rats from a Wistar albino rat colony seemingly resistant to L-NAME hypertension. For this, two simultaneous experiments using a total of 62 pregnant and non-pregnant Wistar albino rats were carried out. 33 rats were divided randomly into 4 groups after pregnancy determination via vaginal sperm controls. They were given SF (Controls), L-NAME (150 mg/kgBW/day), DEXA (100 μg/kgBW/day) or L-NAME + DEXA (150 mg and 100 μg per kg BW/day) at 15th dat of pregnancy after recording their blood pressures for 5 days.Blood pressure determinations were repeatedat 19th day. Then, animals put in individual metaboliccages for 24 h for urine collection. Thereafter, animals were anesthetized for blood collection, euthanized and necropsies were done. Left kidney, adrenal galnds, numbers and weights of fetuses, 24 h urine volume, protein in urine and in blood samples glucose concentrations were determined. Animals' body weights were recorded on days 0, 15 and 20. Data were analyzed via ANOVA and repeated measures ANOVA by using SPSS for Windows Version 21. DEXA and L-NAME + DEXA application reduced the body weights of pregnant rats, and there were significant differences between animals given L-NAME and DEXA and L-NAME + DEXA (P=0.021 and P=0.012, respectively). Compared to controls, only the mean body weight of non-pregnant DEXA group decreased significantly (P=0.042). Interventions affected only diastolic blood pressure in pregnants(P<0.043). The mean diastolic blood pressure of DEXA and L-NAME + DEXA groups differed significantly (P=0.044). UV-24h was not affected by interventions. Effects of interventions on blood glucose concentrations, weights of kidney and adrenals and urinary protein varied according to wheter animals are pregnant or not.