Cardiovascular & Hypertension Lab

 

Cardiovascular & Hypertension lab is engaged with mainly studying the underlying mechanisms of hypertension and finding novel therapeutic agents such as medical plants as an anti-hypertensive medicine. Part of the experiments and research subjects are also conducted under the supervision of Dr. Abedin Vakili. The Hypertension & Cardiovascular Research lab was established in 2007 as part of physiological research center.  Arterial hypertension is the number one risk factor for cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases, which leads to death of many human beings each year. Arterial hypertension is responsible for multiple target organ damages. It promotes (i) atherosclerotic macroangiopathy ensuing stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and myocardial infarction; (ii) atherosclerotic microangiopathy ensuing stroke, vascular dementia, hypertensive retinopathy, and nephropathy (iii) intracerebral haemorrhage; (iv) cardiac failure. Animal models such as Goldblatt hypertension are used for the investigating the underlying mechanisms of hypertension and development of new drug therapies. In "Goldblatt" hypertension experiments, the renal arteries of one or two kidneys are clamped, reducing renal perfusion pressure and flow. This activates renin-angiotension system chronically and subsequently increased blood pressure continuously. Since drug therapy has many problems and side effects, we are interested in considering alternative treatments like exercise, reduction in stress and phytotherapy. Our lab facilities are consisted of: physiograph & blood pressure transducerc, Pneumatic plethysmograph, binocular surgical microscope, temperature control unite and isometric contraction transducer & blood e Pressure transducer.

We produce hypertension by Goldblatt method:

Animals anesthetized with ketamin-xylocine the left kidney exposed and a silver clip with internal diameter of 0.2 mm placed on the kidney’s artery and sutures the surgery site. One month later, hypertensive rats are anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium and placed on the rat temperature unit to maintain a constant rectal temperature of 36.5 ±0.5 °C. Femoral vein is cannulated for extract injection. Femoral artery also is cannulated with a heparinized cannula that connected to a pressure transducer for continuous measurements of arterial BP and heart rate.

   

Some of our research subjects are as following:

  • Evaluating the effect of Teucrium polium extract (oral) on high blood pressure in rat model of renovascular hypertension: Goldblatt method (worked as a Master’s student thesis project)  
  • Evaluating the therapeutic effect of Grape seed extract on high blood pressure induced by lead Poisonous in the rat
  • Evaluation effect of Ferula persica and Viscum album on hypertension (Master’s student project)
  • Evaluation effect of medical plants on hypertension associated with diabetes mellitus (medical student research project)

 

 

Abedin Vakili, PhD, Prof. in Physiology

Email: Abvakili@yahoo.com

 

M. Zahedi Khorasani, PhD, Associate Prof. in Physiology

     Email: zahedikhorasani@yahoo.com