Abstract :
Glucocorticoids are used in the treatment of several diseases, but they have many side effects such as hypertension. It has been discovered many actions for vitamin D due to its strong antioxidant properties. The aim of the present study was to detect the protective effect of vitamin D against glucocorticoids induced hypertension. 24 adult male wistar albino rats were included in the study. Rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups, group1 (control), group 2 given (vitamin D), group 3 given (Dexamethasone) and group 4 given (dexamethasone with vitamin D). Blood pressure (BP) was measured. Fasting serum glucose, insulin, triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were assessed. Nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. Also, angiotensin receptor 1 (AT1) gene expression was detected. Dexamethasone resulted in hypertension, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. It also caused significant decrease of NO, SOD and increase of MDA with an increase of AT1 gene expression. Giving vitamin D with dexamethasone minimized these results. Vitamin D prevented dexamethasone induced hypertension due to prevention of insulin resistance, antioxidant properties and down regulation of AT1.
