Table 2.

Effects of levosimendan on some biochemical and hormonal markers of neurohumoral activation in Dahl/Rapp salt-sensitive rats

Variable	Dahl/Rapp on high-salt diet	Dahl/Rapp on high-salt diet+Levo 0.3	Dahl/Rapp on high-salt diet+Levo 3	Dahl/Rapp on low-salt diet	ANOVA P-value
dU-Alb (mg days−1)	100.5±14.8	106.8±31.2	117.0±12.3	52.4±16.3	0.26
pl-BNP (pg ml−1)	27.3±4.1	16.5±1.3*	18.3±1.9*	16.5±1.2*	0.007
PRA (ng) Ang I (ml−1 h−1)	0.9±0.2	3.9±2.5	2.0±0.7	1.2±0.2	0.51
s-Aldosterone (pg ml−1)	116.0±15.4	75.0±18.3	118.8±46.6	117.3±10.4	0.64
dU-NA (nmol days−1)	1.92±0.22	1.49±0.26	1.08±0.28*	1.73±0.15	0.04

Abbreviations: dU-Alb, 24-h urinary albumin excretion; pl-BNP, plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentration; PRA, plasma renin activity; s-aldosterone, serum aldosterone concentration; dU-NA, 24-h urinary noradrenaline excretion.

Four experimental groups of animals were used: Dahl/Rapp rats on high-salt diet with and without levosimendan (Levo, 0.3 or 3 mg kg⁻¹ via drinking fluid for 7 weeks) and Dahl/Rapp controls receiving low-salt diet. Variables measured were as follows: dU-Alb, pl-BNP, PRA, s-aldosterone, dU-NA. Data shown are means±s.e.m., n=6–12 in each group.

^*P<0.05 compared to Dahl/Rapp rats on high-salt diet.