Effect of sodium on blood pressure, cardiac hypertrophy, and angiotensin receptor expression in rats

Am J Hypertens. 2004 Jan;17(1):21-4. doi: 10.1016/j.amjhyper.2003.08.004.

Abstract

Background: Sodium-induced hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy is related to pressure and volume overload.

Methods: Wistar rats were exposed to low and high sodium diet for 8 weeks. Angiotensin II receptor mRNA, abundance of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), vasoconstriction of aortic rings, and angiotensin II-induced calcium increase were investigated.

Results: Rats on high sodium diet showed significantly elevated blood pressure. Heart weight, AT1 receptor mRNA in cardiac and aortic tissues, and abundance of p38MAPK were significantly increased in rats on high sodium diet.

Conclusions: Increased AT1 receptor expression and angiotensin II-induced calcium increase are compensatory effects in sodium-induced hypertension.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta / drug effects
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects*
  • Cardiomegaly / etiology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / drug effects*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptors, Angiotensin / drug effects*
  • Sodium, Dietary / adverse effects
  • Sodium, Dietary / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Receptors, Angiotensin
  • Sodium, Dietary
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases