Azilsartan treatment improves insulin sensitivity in obese spontaneously hypertensive Koletsky rats

Aim: Hypertension often coexists with insulin resistance. However, most metabolic effects of the antihypertensive agents have been investigated in nomotensive animals, in which different conclusions may arise. We investigated the metabolic effects of the new angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker azilsartan using the obese Koletsky rats superimposed on the background of the spontaneously hypertensive rats. Methods: Male Koletsky rats were treated with azilsartan (2 mg/kg/day) over 3 weeks. Blood pressure was measured by tail-cuff. Blood biochemical and hormonal parameters were determined by enzymatic or ELISA methods. Gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR. Results: In Koletsky rats, azilsartan treatment lowered blood pressure, basal plasma insulin concentration and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index, and inhibited over-increase of plasma glucose and insulin concentrations during oral glucose tolerance test. These effects were accompanied by decreases in both food intake and body weight (BW) increase. Although two treatments showed the same effect on BW gain, insulin sensitivity was higher after azilsartan treatment than pair- feeding. Azilsartan neither affected plasma concentrations of triglyceride and free fatty acids, nor increased adipose mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor (PPAR)gamma and its target genes such as adiponectin, aP2. In addition, azilsartan downregulated 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 expression. Conclusions: These results show the insulin- sensitizing effect of azilsartan in obese Koletsky rats. This effect is independent of decreases in food intake and BW increase or of the activation of adipose PPAR.. Our findings indicate the possible usefulness of azilsartan in the treatment of metabolic syndrome.