Immunization of Dahl SS/jr rats with an ouabain conjugate mitigates hypertension.
Inhibition of the Na+/K(+)-ATPase by a circulating endogenous digitalis- or ouabain-like substance has been associated with the pathogenesis of several forms of clinical and experimental hypertension. Inbred salt-sensitive Dahl SS/jr rats were immunized with either urease or a ouabain-urease conjugate, then challenged with a high salt diet. The salt-induced increase in blood pressure in the ouabain-urease-immunized animals was significantly less than that of the urease-inoculated rats. Sera of the ouabain-urease immunized animals cross-reacted with ouabagenin, digoxigenin, digoxin, and digitoxin, but not with aldosterone, corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone (DOC), 18-hydroxy DOC, or 19-nor DOC. The fact that hypertension was not completely blocked by immunization supports ample evidence that the disease in these animals is multifactorial with several genes involved.
Gomez-Sanchez
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Research Service, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, Florida.
Gomez-Sanchez
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Fort
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D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007114:Immunization; D010042:Ouabain / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014510:Urease / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D010042:Ouabain; D014510:Urease