In this study, we investigated the effect of a specific
chymase inhibitor, 2-(5-formylamino-6-oxo-2-phenyl-1,6-dihydropyrimidine-1-yl)-N-[[3,4-dioxo-1-phenyl-7-(2-pyridyloxy)]-2-heptyl]
acetamide (
NK3201), in the development of
abdominal aortic aneurysm in a hamster experimental model. The
abdominal aortic aneurysm was induced by application of
elastase onto the abdominal aorta in hamster. Each hamster was administered
NK3201 (30 mg/kg/day p.o.) or placebo beginning 4 days before application of
elastase and continuing through the experiments.
Sham-operated hamsters received saline application onto the abdominal aorta. Two weeks after application of
elastase, the aortic diameter in the placebo-treated group was significantly increased to 1.6-fold compared with the value for the
sham-operated group, whereas that in the NK3201-treated group was significantly reduced. The
chymase activities in the
sham-operated and the placebo-treated groups were 0.35 +/- 0.01 and 3.44 +/- 0.62 mU/mg
protein, respectively, and this difference was significant.
NK3201 significantly reduced the
chymase activity in the placebo-treated group. Here, we demonstrated for the first time that a
chymase inhibitor prevented the development of
abdominal aortic aneurysm in a hamster experimental model.