Sodium metabolism in offspring of hypertensive parents

Intracellular sodium concentration and Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity were studied in erythrocytes obtained from members of 14 families with one hypertensive parent and from age-matched control subjects, as part of a study on the genetic and environmental determinants of essential hypertension. We found reduced Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity, increased intracellular Na+ concentration, and reduced urinary Na+ excretion in hypertensive patients as compared with the control subjects. In the offspring of hypertensive parents an increase in intracellular Na+ concentration and a decrease in Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity were observed, with a significant correlation relating such parameters. Normotensive spouses did not differ from the normotensive control adults in any of the parameters studied, suggesting no influence of shared family environment in our family group. These data suggest that there is a strong genetic influence contributing to familiar alterations in cation transport, although long-term studies are needed to evaluate the influence of environmental determinants.