The effect of indomethacin on blood pressure in a rat model of preeclampsia

OBJECTFVE: To determine if inhibition of the cyclooxygenase enzyme affects the hypertension induced by nitric oxide synihase blockade in a previously characterized rat model of preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: As previously reported, a preeclampsia-like condition was induced by infusing pregnant rats with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, L-NAME. Timed, pregnant Harlan-Sprague-Dawley rats (average weight 220 g) were given either vehicle (control group), L-NAME 50 mg/d (L-NAME group), indomethadn 0.1 rng/d (INDO group) or combination (L-NAME + INDO group) starting on day 17 of pregnancy (term 22 days). Vehicle and L-NAME were delivered continuously using subcutaneously implanted osmotic minipumps. Indomethacin was given in two daily subcutaneous injections. Blood pressure was measured with the tailcuff method before any treatments and daily until postpartum day 2. Data presented as mean ±SE. RESULTS: Except for an increase on the day following insertion of the pump, indomethacin had no significant effect on the hypertension induced by L-NAME. CONCLUSIONS: Non-selective inhibition of all the products of the cyclooxygenase enzyme does not influence the hypertension described with the preeclampsia-like condition induced by nitric oxide deficiency in the rat. Our findings do not exclude a role for relative deficiency or excess of individual cyclooxygenase enzyme products.