Carvedilol protects the peritubular capillaries and kidney structure in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract

Carvedilol improves autoregulation of renal blood flow by virtue of its ability to reduce intrarenal vascular resistance [1] and modify the vascular reactivity in non-denervated kidney [2]. Long-term changes in renal blood flow, for example during essential hypertension, may induce progressive modifications in the microvascular (MV) tone, given that the chronic vascular constriction can lead to peritubular capillary loss and increased intrarenal vascular resistance. The severity of these changes may affect the kidney functions, a phenomenon known as vascular rarefaction [3].