Irbesartan prevents metabolic syndrome in rats via activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ

Irbesartan,an angiotensin-receptor blocker,is a known agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (ppar) γ. in this study,thirteen-week-old spontaneously hypertensive (shr)/ndmcr-cp rats,representing a genetic model of metabolic syndrome,were treated daily with placebo,irbesartan (30 mg/kg),valsartan (10 mg/kg),or pioglitazone (10 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. significant reductions in systolic blood pressure were seen in the irbesartan- and valsartan-treated groups,but not in the pioglitazone-treated group. compared with the placebo group,plasma insulin,homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index,and plasma triglyceride levels were significantly lower while plasma adiponectin levels were significantly higher in the pioglitazone- and irbesartan-treated groups,but not in the valsartan-treated group. significant increases in the gene expression of adiponectin and glut4 within adipose tissue were also observed in the pioglitazone- and irbesartan-treated groups,but not in the valsartan-treated group. these findings suggest that through pparγ stimulation along with angiotensin ii inhibition,irbesartan may be an optimal treatment option in the prevention of metabolic syndrome as well as hypertension. © the japanese pharmacological society.