Present study investigated the effect of red wine polyphenolic compounds (ProvinolsTM) on blood pressure (BP), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and vascular function in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats exposed to chronic social stress produced by crowding. Adult male rats were divided into four groups: control (480 cm2/rat), ProvinolsTM-treated (20 mg/kg/day, 480 cm2/rat), crowded (200 cm2/rat) and crowded treated with Provinols
TM (20 mg/kg/day, 200 cm2/rat) for 8 weeks. No differences in BP were observed among the groups at the end of experiment, however, reduced BP was observed in ProvinolsTM-treated rats after 3 weeks of treatment. NOS activity in the aorta was significantly elevated in crowded rats, while ProvinolsTM alone had no effect on nitric oxide (NO) production. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation of the femoral artery was significantly improved in stressed and ProvinolsTM-treated rats vs. control, without significant changes in their noradrenaline-induced vasoconstriction. Interestingly, ProvinolsTM blunted the elevation of NO production and vasorelaxation during crowding. Increased endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and NO synthesis in crowded rats may represent the adaptation mechanisms, resulting in unaltered blood pressure in stress-exposed normotensive rats. This study further demonstrated that elevated release of NO during chronic stress may be prevented by ProvinolsTM. Thus, Provino TM might maintain equilibrium between endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor and vasodilator factors in stress.