PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDY OF CB1 RECEPTOR MODULATION IN HYPERTENSION AND POSSIBLE INTRARENAL NANOIMPLANTS APPLICATIONS

VIRNA MARTÍN GIMENÉZ; DIEGO KASSUHA; WALTER MANUCHA

Mendoza

Congreso; XXXIV Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2016

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Arterial hypertension is a medical condition considered to be one of the major public health problems in developed countries. An innovative therapeutic option would involve the use of cannabinoids as activators of type 1 receptors (CB1) in order to cause vasodilation and inhibition of ion absorption at the renal medulla by a nitric oxide (NO) mechanism, resulting in decreased blood pressure. However, cannabinoids have adverse effects in the central nervous system. In this sense, nanotechnology would allow the controlled release of drugs at specific sites, directing its therapeutic action, and also limiting the occurrence of undesirable effects. Therefore, our objective is to design an intrarenal scaffold of cannabinoid controlled release, comprising polycaprolactone nanofibers obtained by the electrospinning technique, in order to increase NO bioavailability. It will work with six groups (SHR/WKY control, SHR/WKY sham, and SHR/WKY with nanofibers). Hemodynamic parameters, NO levels, oxygen consumption by the loop of Henle cells and sodium excretion, will be monitored. We hope to demonstrate that activation of CB1 receptors in the renal medulla increases diuresis in hypertensive rats as consequence of increased excretion of NaCl by NO-mediated mechanism. In addition, we aspire equally to use nanotechnology to demonstrate its potential to enhance the activity of therapeutic agents while minimizing toxicity and adverse side effects. Thus, intrarenal implants could be a promising therapeutic alternative for the treatment of hypertension.