The role of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid in adrenocorticotrophic hormone and dexamethasone-induced hypertension

20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) is a potent constrictor in small arteries and also has natriuretic properties. Urinary 20-HETE excretion is increased in adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-induced hypertensive rats. In the present study, we investigated the effect of a specific enzyme inhibitor of 20-HETE production, N-hydroxy-N'-(4-butyl-2-methylphenyl) formamidine (HET0016), on glucocorticoid-induced hypertension in rats, a sodium-independent model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with physiological saline (0.9% NaCl), ACTH (0.2 mg/kg per day) or dexamethasone (0.03 mg/rat per day) subcutaneously for 13 days. HET0016 (10 mg/kg per day) or its vehicle (10% lecithin in physiological saline) was coadministered (intraperitoneally) a day before (prevention study) or at day 8 of treatment (reversal studies). Systolic blood pressure was measured by the tail-cuff method. Relative to physiological saline, systolic blood pressure was increased by ACTH (P < 0.001) and dexamethasone (P < 0.01). HET0016 reversed ACTH-induced (P < 0.01) but not dexamethasone-induced hypertension. HET0016 also prevented the development of hypertension induced by ACTH (P < 0.01). ACTH, but not dexamethasone, increased renal microsome 20-HETE formation and plasma F2-isoprostane concentrations. HET0016 inhibited renal 20-HETE formation but had no effect on plasma F2-isoprostane concentrations or renal cytochrome P450 4A1 expression. Inhibition of 20-HETE production by HET0016 prevents and reverses ACTH-induced but not dexamethasone-induced hypertension. These results suggest that 20-HETE may play a role in the genesis of ACTH-induced hypertension but not in dexamethasone-induced hypertension.