Long-term renal handling of sodium and calcium in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The renal handling of sodium and calcium in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was investigated over an extended period (10-75 weeks of age) and compared with age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto controls. The animals were fed a standard rat chow except during screening periods when liquid diet that matched the pellet chow was substituted. Sodium balance, urinary excretion of sodium and calcium, fractional excretion of sodium (FENa), and renal cortical dopamine receptors (DA1 and DA2) were measured at 10, 30, 60 and 75 weeks of age. The results showed no difference between the two strains except for FENa, which was significantly higher in the SHR at 75 weeks coincident with decreased glomerular filtration rate. We conclude that a defect in renal handling of sodium and/or calcium is not a major factor in the maintenance of hypertension in the SHR.