EFFECTS OF HIGH OR LOW SODIUM INTAKE IN SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) developed and maintained hypertension in spite of low sodium intake. The development of hypertension was accelerated and hypertension was enhanced by chronic excess sodium intake (1% salt in drinking water with or without high sodium diet). Various sub-strains of SHR showed some difference in sensitivity to salt ingestion. Consequently, hypertension in SHR is mainly determined by genetic factors, the minor part of which interacts with excess salt intake especially in several substrains of SHR.