Role of Calcium Channel Blockers and Diuretics in Salt -induced Oxidative Stress associated Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility of Male Wistar rats

Background The prevalence of hypertension is rising globally, and elevated blood pressure (BP) is the leading cause of death, with high salt intake as the most common cause for the development of hypertension. Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker which is effective in the treatment of hypertension and in the prophylactic management of angina while Indapamide is a thiazide-like class of diuretics that reduces blood volume by acting on the kidneys to reduce sodium (Na ⁺ ) reabsorption in the distal convoluted tubule. Methods Twenty-four (24) male Wistar rats weighing between 185- 200g were used for this study. The rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups (n = 6). Group one (1) were the Normal control. Group 2: sodium supplemented diet only. Group 3 and 4: Sodium supplemented fed for 8 weeks + Amlodipine (5mg/kgb.w) treatment for four (4) weeks and sodium supplemented fed for 8 weeks + Indapamide (1mg/kgb.w) treatment for 4 weeks. After the fourth week of treatment, the animals were euthanized under ketamine (50mg/kg) anesthesia, and blood sample collected via cardiac puncture into eppendorf bottle to obtain serum for biochemical analysis and lithium heparin bottles for RBC osmotic fragility test. The left ventricle, ascending aorta and kidney were extracted for histological examination. Results Malondialdehyde (MDA) level was significantly increased in Sodium fed rats when compared with control. Amlodipine and Indapamide significantly reduced MDA level in Sodium fed rats. Antioxidant enzymes were also significantly decreased in Sodium fed but was increased by Amlodipine and Indapamide respectively. The sodium fed rats exhibited significantly higher erythrocyte osmotic fragility than the control, sodium fed + Amlodipine and sodium fed + Indapamide groups at 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7% of NaCl concentration. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also significantly increased in sodium fed rats when compared with control but was decreased with Amlodipine and Indapamide treatment. Conclusion Amlodipine and Indapamide demonstrated antioxidant property and ameliorative role on Wistar rats fed with high salt diet.