Abstract: Aim To evaluate the effects of different doses of valsartan on blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods Eighteen SHR (fourteen-week-old, male) were divided into three groups (six rats in each group): SHR control group in which the rats were fed with normal saline; low dose valsartan group in which the rats were fed with valsartan 8 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 and high dose valsartan group in which the rats were fed with valsartan 24 mg·kg^-1·d^-1、all for 8 weeks. The rats in the WKY control group (n=6) were fed with normal saline for 8 weeks. Results SBP, LVM/ BW and TDM of SHR were remarkably lower than those of the control after drug intervention and the effect on SBP LV M/ BW and TDM was most remarkable in the high dose valsartan group. Conclusion Different doses of valsartan can decrease SBP of SHR and inhibit the progression of ventricular hypertrophy.

Key words: hypertension, spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), valsartan, left ventricular hypertrophy