Background: The pharmacological advantage of combination of an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) and a calcium-channel blocker (CCB) is not fully defined. This study was undertaken to elucidate the potential benefit of their combination in metabolic syndrome.
Methods: SHR/NDmcr-cp (SHRcp), a rat model of human metabolic syndrome, were divided into four groups, and were administered (i) vehicle, (ii) candesartan (an ARB) 0.3 mg/kg/day, (iii) amlodipine (a CCB) 3 mg/kg/day, and (iv) candesartan 0.3 mg/kg/day plus amlodipine 3 mg/kg/day, for 4 weeks.
Results: Candesartan, amlodipine, or their combination significantly ameliorated the impairment of vascular endothelium-dependent relaxation with acetylcholine in SHRcp. However, the impairment of insulin-induced vasodilation in SHRcp was partially improved by candesartan alone, but not by amlodipine alone. Interestingly, amlodipine added to candesartan synergistically enhanced the improvement of impaired insulin-induced vasodilation by candesartan, indicating the synergistic improvement of vascular insulin resistance by the combination of these drugs. Candesartan alone, but not amlodipine alone, significantly attenuated vascular superoxide and NADPH oxidase subunit p22phox in SHRcp. Amlodipine added to candesartan synergistically enhanced the reduction of vascular p22phox levels and superoxide by candesartan in SHRcp, suggesting the association of vascular insulin resistance with oxidative stress. Furthermore, the combination of candesartan with amlodipine synergistically decreased the increase in visceral adipocyte size, serum free-fatty acid, and tumor necrosis factor-α in SHRcp.
Conclusions: ARB and CCB combination synergistically ameliorated vascular insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome, being associated with the synergistic attenuation of vascular oxidative stress and metabolic disorders.