Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
10:03

Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Published on: June 27, 2025

Hypertension: a disorder of volume control? What is the evidence?

Aubrey R Morrison1, Graeme Mindel

  • 1Department of Medicine, Renal Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA. Morrison@wustl.edu

Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease
|June 25, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Kidney function and sodium balance are key to understanding hypertension. Genetic factors and low birth weight may predispose individuals to this common condition, especially with high salt intake.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Genetics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Hypertension is a prevalent global health issue with significant economic impact.
  • The kidney plays a critical role in the complex etiology of hypertension.
  • Dysregulation of sodium balance and volume expansion are common in genetic hypertension models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of the kidney in hypertension.
  • To investigate the link between sodium balance, genetics, and hypertension.
  • To examine the influence of low birth weight and intrauterine factors on hypertension development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of experimental and clinical observations.
  • Analysis of genetic studies on monogenic diseases.
  • Examination of epidemiological data on sodium excretion.
  • Evaluation of animal studies on low birth weight and transporter expression.

Main Results:

  • High sodium excretion rates correlate with increased hypertension incidence.
  • Low birth weight is associated with higher hypertension risk later in life.
  • Upregulation of specific sodium transporters (Na(+)/K(+)/2Cl(-) and thiazide-sensitive) observed in low-birth-weight animals.
  • Subtle gain-of-function mutations in transporters may impair volume homeostasis with salt intake.

Conclusions:

  • Kidney's role in sodium balance is central to hypertension.
  • Intrauterine factors, like low birth weight, may epigenetically influence hypertension risk.
  • Genetic predispositions involving sodium transporters can be unmasked by dietary salt.

Related Concept Videos

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure01:18

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology01:29

Hypertension II: Pathophysiology

Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the blood's force against artery walls is excessively high, posing risks such as heart disease. The condition's underlying mechanisms involve complex interactions among the cardiovascular, kidney, and autonomic nervous systems.Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system significantly influences blood pressure regulation. When blood pressure decreases, the kidneys secrete renin. This enzyme transforms angiotensinogen, a plasma protein,...
Hypertension I: Introduction01:28

Hypertension I: Introduction

Hypertension is a widespread, long-term medical condition where blood pressure in the arteries remains elevated. It is characterized by systolic blood pressure readings of 130 mm Hg or above or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) readings of 80 mm Hg or higher. Unmanaged hypertension poses significant health risks, making the distinction between primary (or essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension crucial, as their management and implications vary.Primary HypertensionPrimary hypertension,...
Blood Pressure01:30

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure or force of blood exerted on the artery's walls as it circulates through the body. It is essential for maintaining blood flow throughout the body.
The average BP in an adult is typically around 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). In this measurement, the numerator (120) indicates the systolic pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries during the contraction of the heart's ventricles as blood is expelled. The denominator (80) represents the diastolic...
Blood Pressure01:24

Blood Pressure

The movement of blood in a human body, commonly referred to as blood flow, is determined by the volume of blood that traverses a certain section of the bodily system per unit time. It is the rhythmic contraction of the heart's ventricles that primarily instigates this movement. As the ventricles contract, blood is forced into the prominent arteries, which then flow from areas of greater pressure to lower pressure areas. This movement continues into smaller arteries and arterioles and...
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:30

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...