Effects of Losartan, Atorvastatin, and Aspirin on Blood Pressure and Gut Microbiota in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Abstract

Many studies have shown that alterations in the gut microbiota are associated with hypertension. Our study aimed to observe the characteristics of the gut microbiota in hypertension and to further explore whether drug molecules can play a therapeutic role in hypertension by interfering with the gut microbiota. We evaluated the differences in the composition of the gut microbiota in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). Meanwhile, three first-line cardiovascular disease (CVD) drugs, losartan, atorvastatin, and aspirin, were used to treat the SHR in order to observe their effects on the gut microbiota in SHR. The 16S rDNA results showed that the diversity and richness of the gut microbiota in SHR were significantly reduced compared with that of the WKY, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was increased, the abundances of Bifidobacterium and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacteria decreased, and the abundance of lactate-producing bacteria increased. In addition to lowering the blood pressure, losartan increased the abundances of Alistipes, Bacteroides, and Butyricimonas in SHR, reduced the abundances of Ruminococcaceae, Streptococcus, and Turicibacter, reduced the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, and rebalanced the gut microbiota. Losartan also increased the abundances of Bifidobacterium and SCFAs-producing bacteria and reduced the abundance of lactate-producing bacteria. However, atorvastatin and aspirin had no significant effect on the gut microbiota in SHR. The above results showed that losartan could change the characteristics of the gut microbiota in hypertension and rebalance the gut microbiota, which may be related to lowering the blood pressure. Atorvastatin and aspirin have no significant influence on the gut microbiota in SHR.

Effects of Long-Term Intervention with Losartan, Aspirin and Atorvastatin on Vascular Remodeling in Juvenile Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

“…Blood pressure represents hemodynamic conditions and is one of the most commonly monitored clinical parameters for therapeutic decisions. In our study, losartan can significantly reduce systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), but long-term administration of aspirin and atorvastatin has no significant effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (the blood pressure of SHR rats aged 6–18 weeks (dosing 0–12 weeks) has been published in Dong et al, 2023, Molecules [ 33 ], and blood pressure of 22 weeks was included in the Supplementary Materials ). Blood pressure regulation is a complex physiologic function that depends on the integrated actions of multiple cardiovascular, renal, neural, endocrine, and local tissue control systems [ 34 ].…”

“…Blood pressure regulation is a complex physiologic function that depends on the integrated actions of multiple cardiovascular, renal, neural, endocrine, and local tissue control systems [ 34 ]. One of the reasons may be that only losartan has an effect on the gut microbiota, while the other two did not [ 33 ]. Although aspirin and atorvastatin can improve vascular remodeling, that is not enough to bring an obvious blood pressure change.…”

Analysis of Factors Associated with Constipation in the Population with Obesity: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

“…To verify whether the above results were due to the use of hypertensive medication, we analyzed the hypertensive medication variable and found no correlation between the use of hypertensive medication and constipation. Studies have suggested that the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes in the intestine of a hypertensive patient is significantly increased, which is a manifestation of intestinal dysbiosis [21][22][23][24][25]. Hypertension may interact with intestinal dysbiosis through intestinal pathology, intestinal permeability, and the gutbrain axis.…”

Dynamic gut microbiome-metabolome in cationic bovine serum albumin induced experimental immune-complex glomerulonephritis and effect of losartan and mycophenolate mofetil on microbiota modulation

“…Recipient SD rats were orally gavaged with 180–200 g of donor fecal contents and grouped into R-Sham, ICGN-vehicle (R-ICGN), ICGN-losartan-treated (R-Losartan), and ICGN-MMF (R-MMF) groups, with each group containing six animals. FMT was performed in recipient rats as previously described [ 31 , 32 ]. The fecal contents were diluted 1:20 in sterile PBS and centrifuged at 60 g for 5 min.…”