Selective Serotonin-norepinephrine Re-uptake Inhibition Limits Renovas-cular-hypertension Induced Cognitive Impairment, Endothelial Dysfunction, and Oxidative Stress Injury.

Hypertension has been reported to induce cognitive decline and dementia of vascular origin. Serotonin- norepinephrine reuptake transporters take part in the control of inflammation, cognitive functions, motivational acts and deterioration of neurons. This study was carried out to examine the effect of venlafaxine; a specific serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), in two-kidney-one-clip-2K1C (renovascular hypertension) provoked vascular dementia (VaD) in albino rats. 2K1C technique was performed to provoke renovascular-hypertension in adult male albino Wistar rats. Learning and memory were assessed by using the elevated plus maze and Morris water maze. Mean arterial blood pressure- MABP, as well as endothelial function, were assessed by means of BIOPAC system. Serum nitrosative stress (nitrite/ nitrate), aortic superoxide anion, brain oxidative stress, inflammation, cholinergic dysfunction and brain damage (2,3,5-triphenylterazolium chloride staining) were also assessed. 2K1C has increased MABP, endothelial dysfunction as well as learning and memory impairments. 2K1C method has increased serum nitrosative stress (reduced nitrite/nitrate level), oxidative stress (increased brain thiobarbituric acid reactive species and aortic superoxide anion content along with decreased levels of brain superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and catalase), brain inflammation (increased myeloperoxidase), cholinergic dysfunction (increased acetylcholinesterase activity) and brain damage. Treatment with venlafaxine considerably attenuated renovascular-hypertension induced cognition impairment, endothelial dysfunction, serum nitrosative stress, brain and aortic oxidative stress, cholinergic function, inflammation as well as cerebral damage. The finding of this study indicates that specific modulation of the serotonin-norepinephrine transporter perhaps regarded as potential interventions for the management of renovascular hypertension provoked VaD.