Salt in hypertension: physiological and molecular aspects.
Salt loading acutely or chronically raises blood pressure in susceptible individuals. Sodium-dependent hypertension is characterized by sympathetic stimulation, apparently mediated via excitation of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in brainstem nuclei. At this time, it is unclear which one(s) of the three alpha 2-adrenoceptor subtypes may be involved in this process. Although some studies have reported increases in numbers and/or functional responsiveness of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in hypertensives or normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents, others have failed to confirm this. Genetic analysis has suggested presence of alpha 2-adrenoceptor gene polymorphisms in some hypertensives but the results so far have been inconsistent.
Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
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D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000235:genetics; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects*
D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D012982:Sodium, Dietary