CHRONIC SODIUM CHLORIDE TOXICITY: HYPERTENSION, RENAL AND VASCULAR LESIONS

Abstract

In view of the paucity of information relative to the chronic effects of NaCl in the diet of mammalia, a long-term study was undertaken in the male albino rat. Purified rations, containing from 0.01% to 9.8% NaCl, and water were fed at will from the age of 5 wks. Diets both high and low in NaCl reduced the rate of growth. Water consumption was related directly to the amt. of salt in the diet. A low-Na diet depressed the appetite, but diets high in NaCl did not. Edema developed in 18% of the rats eating the diets which contained 7.0% to 9.8% NaCl. Pathologic lesions were observed in the kidneys and to a lesser extent in various other tissues of rats consuming these high levels of salt. Sustained arterial hypertension was observed in the rats eating high levels of NaCl after 9 mos. of the dietary regimen. A linear relationship was found to exist between the NaCl concn. in the diet and the systolic blood pressure.