STUDIES ON ALDOSTERONE: III. CHRONIC EFFECT ON THE BLOOD PRESSURE OF RATS

Abstract

A rise in systolic blood pressure due to the administration of 0.4 or 0.5 μg of aldosterone per 100 g body weight to young male rats, over a period of 3 to 6 months, has been confirmed in two separate experiments. This effect was observed whether the aldosterone was given 3 days a week or 6 days a week, and whether dissolved in aqueous ethanol or in oil. Equal doses of 9-α-fluorohydrocortisone and of 2-methyl-9-α-fluorohydrocortisone produced similar though somewhat less consistent effects. When 4 or 5 μg of reserpine was administered along with aldosterone there was no clear evidence of a protective effect. Reserpine alone at these low dose levels was somewhat toxic in the rat and led to a rise in blood pressure.