Production of Hypertension in the Rat by Substituting Hypertonic Sodium Chloride Solutions for Drinking Water.

Abstract

In 3 expts., systolic blood pressure measurements were made on 27 control rats and on 31 animals watered with hypertonic NaCl solns. for a period of 6 wks. The animals watered with hypertonic saline solns. devel-oped an arterial hypertension after a latent period of 1-4 wks. At autopsy this was found to be associated with an hypertrophy of the heart and kidneys relative to body wt. Some possible mechanisms for the development of this hypertension are discussed. The substitution of hypertonic NaCl solns. for the drinking water affords a simple, inexpensive, and dependable method for the production of arterial hypertension in the rat.