title: Endothelium-dependent vascular responses in normotensive and hypertensive Dahl rats.
abstract: Experiments were designed to study endothelium-dependent responses in salt-sensitive (DS) and salt-resistant Dahl rats (DR). The rats were fed a low sodium (0.1% NaCl) or high sodium (8% NaCl) diet for 8 weeks. Blood pressure in DS fed a high sodium diet was higher than that in the remaining animals. Aortic rings with and without endothelium were suspended for isometric tension recording. Acetylcholine, adenosine 5'-diphosphate, and thrombin induced endothelium-dependent relaxations that were significantly depressed in the aorta of DS fed a high sodium diet. The relaxations in response to sodium nitroprusside were only slightly, but significantly, depressed in DS fed a high sodium diet. Removal of the endothelium greatly enhanced the response to serotonin and norepinephrine. In rings with, but not without, endothelium taken from rats fed a high sodium diet, the tension developed in response to serotonin and norepinephrine was significantly greater than that in animals fed a low sodium diet. These experiments indicate that endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine, adenosine 5'-diphosphate, and thrombin are depressed in hypertensive Dahl rats; this effect probably reflects a decreased release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s), although structural changes might contribute; and the responsiveness to vasoconstrictor agents is increased in DS and DR fed a high sodium diet. These findings may indicate differential effects of blood pressure and dietary salt on endothelial function.
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D004727:Endothelium / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D013917:Thrombin; D000109:Acetylcholine