Hypotensive effect of alpha-lipoic acid after a single administration in rats

OBJECTIVE: The effect of alpha-lipoic acid on blood pressure was investigated many times in chronic studies, but there are no studies on the effect of this compound after a single administration. Alpha-lipoic acid is a drug used in diabetic neuropathy, often in obese patients, to treat hypertension. Therefore, knowledge of the potential antihypertensive effect of alpha-lipoic acid even after a single dose and possibly too much pressure reduction is interesting and useful. METHODS: The mechanism of the hypotensive effect of alpha-lipoic acid was examined in normotensive rats in vivo after a single intraperitoneal administration, blood pressure in the left carotid artery of the rats was measured prior to the administration of the compounds (alpha- lipoic acid and/or glibenclamide) and 80 min thereafter. RESULTS: Alpha-lipoic acid at a dosage of 50 mg/kg b.w. i.p. significantly decreased the blood pressure from the 50(th) min after drug administration. This cardiovascular effect of this compound was reversed by glibenclamide, a selective K(ATP) blocker. Glibenclamide alone at this dose did not significantly affect the blood pressure. Statistical significance was evaluated using two-way ANOVA. CONCLUSION: This suggests that alpha-lipoic acid affects ATP-dependent potassium channels. It is possible that this is an indirect effect of hydrogen sulfide because alpha-lipoic acid can increase its concentration. The results obtained in this study are very important because the patients taking alpha-lipoic acid may be treated for co-existing hypertension. Therefore, the possibility of blood pressure lowering by alpha-lipoic acid should be taken into account, although it does not lead to excessive orthostatic hypotension.