PPARγ Activation Prevents Hypertensive Remodeling of Cerebral Arteries and Improves Vascular Function in Female Rats

Background and Purpose-Previous studies have shown that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma), a ligand-activated transcription factor expressed in vascular cells, is protective of the vasculature. We hypothesized that activation of PPAR gamma could prevent hypertensive remodeling of cerebral arteries and improve vascular function. Methods-Ten female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N-G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) for 5 weeks, 8 were treated with L-NAME plus the PPAR gamma activator rosiglitazone, and 8 received no treatment and served as controls. Blood pressure, myogenic activity, passive diameters and wall thickness of cerebral arteries, and brain capillary density were compared between the groups. Results-Treatment with L-NAME caused an increase in arterial blood pressure that was sustained with rosiglitazone treatment. L-NAME also caused inward hypertrophic remodeling and enhanced myogenic reactivity of cerebral arteries that was reversed by rosiglitazone. In addition, L-NAME hypertension caused rarefaction of brain capillaries by approximately 12%, whereas treatment with rosiglitazone increased capillary density by approximately 20%. Conclusion-PPAR gamma activation may be an effective and clinically relevant way to prevent hypertensive remodeling of cerebral arteries and capillary rarefaction as well as improving vascular function without affecting blood pressure. (Stroke. 2010; 41: 1266-1270.)