Chronic hypertension and vascular alterations following short-term high dietary salt intake in postweaning rats.
The chronic effects of short-term administration of a high salt diet to postweaning rats on blood pressure (BP) was studied. BP was significantly elevated following 4 weeks of treatment. After stopping the high salt diet, BP dropped to control levels but then progressively rose again to hypertensive levels. A significant increase in arterial medial thickness as well as an increase in contractile sensitivity and a decrease in relaxation responsiveness were observed in aortic smooth muscle. These data show that short-term administration of a high salt diet to normal postweaning rats results in a chronic elevation in BP accompanied by significant alterations in vascular structure and function.
Soltis
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EE
Division of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40536-0082.
Bartrug
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BL
Newman
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PS
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D014886:Weaning
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary