title: Potassium depletion ameliorates hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: The hemodynamic effect of moderate K+ depletion in hypertension is unknown. Since severe K+ depletion reduces systemic vascular resistance in normotensive rats, we determined the effect of K+ depletion on the natural history of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and SHR were fed a K+-replete, a moderately K+-depleted, or a severely K+-depleted diet. After 6 weeks, systemic vascular resistance was reduced by 25% in WKY on the severely K+-depleted diet while mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance were comparable in WKY on the other two diets. In SHR on the severely K+-depleted diet for 6 weeks, muscle K+ was reduced by 23% and growth rate by 65%. In SHR on the moderately K+-depleted diet, growth rate was reduced by 23% after 3 weeks. By 6 weeks, however, muscle K+ was reduced by 5 to 6% and growth rate was comparable to that in SHR receiving the K+-replete diet. The administration of either K+-depleted diet prevented the development of hypertension (systolic blood pressure: severely depleted, 116 +/- 4; moderately depleted, 122 +/- 3; K+-replete, 155 +/- 5 mm Hg; p less than 0.001 compared with both K+-depleted groups) and reversed established hypertension (systolic blood pressure: severely depleted, 116 +/- 4; moderately depleted, 128 +/- 3; K+-replete, 171 +/- 5 mm Hg; p less than 0.001 compared with both K+-depleted groups). The protective effect of K+ depletion was mediated by a 40% reduction in systemic vascular resistance. These results suggest that K+ depletion has a potent antihypertensive effect in SHR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011191:Potassium Deficiency / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR / Q000502:physiology*; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000502:physiology*; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY / Q000502:physiology*; D014655:Vascular Resistance
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium