title: Na+-Li+ countertransport in essential hypertension.
abstract: Several studies on Na+-Li+ countertransport have reported higher rates in essential hypertensive than in normotensives, with a distribution pattern which is dependent on racial and ethnic background. However, it is not well established whether this abnormality in Na+ transport is associated with an abnormal clinical setting. In the present study we have performed a kinetic analysis of the interaction of the Na+-Li+ countertransport system with internal Na+ in erythrocytes from a sample of 72 essential hypertensives and 30 normotensive controls. A significant increase in mean values of the maximal rate of Li+-stimulated Na+ efflux (Vmax; 375.1 +/- 23.8 versus 213.7 +/- 8.5 mumol/l cells per h; mean +/- s.e.m.; Mann-Whitney test: U = 500; P less than 0.0001), as well as in the apparent affinity constant for internal Na+ (KNa; 10.03 +/- 0.08 versus 6 +/- 0.4 mmol/l cells; Mann-Whitney test: U = 718; P less than 0.0079), were observed in essential hypertensives with respect to normotensives. Using the 95% confidence interval of Vmax in normotensives as the normal range, 29 (40.3%) of the essential hypertensives exhibited values above the normal upper limit. The maximal rate (Vmax) and the internal Na+ content required for half-maximal stimulation (K50%) of Na+-K+ ATPase and outward Na+-K+ cotransport, and the rate constant of Na+ leak (KPNa) in this subset were similar to the values observed in the controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of General Internal Medicine, Hospital Clinic i Provincial, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De la Sierra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coca
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Aguilera
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urbano-Marquez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017920:Antiporters; D001692:Biological Transport; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism*; D008094:Lithium / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017920:Antiporters; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C045885:sodium-lithium countertransporter; D008094:Lithium; D012964:Sodium