ACE and hypertensive disorder: Because activating angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-angiotensin (Ang) II-angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) axis promotes vasoconstriction in favor of hypertension, our data provide a potential mechanism for the protective effect of DMF on DEX+HF-induced hypertension is, at least in part, due to blockade of the RAS.