Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026
07:54
Long-term Blood Pressure Measurement in Freely Moving Mice Using Telemetry
Published on: May 17, 2016
Endocrine hypertension in small animals
Claudia E Reusch1, Stefan Schellenberg, Monique Wenger
1Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland. creusch@vetclinics.uzh.ch
Summary
Idiopathic hypertension is less common than previously thought. Secondary causes, like primary hyperaldosteronism, are more prevalent in both humans and animals, particularly dogs and cats with endocrine hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Hypertension is traditionally classified as idiopathic or secondary.
- Idiopathic hypertension was previously considered the predominant form in humans (>95%).
- Recent research indicates a higher prevalence of secondary causes for hypertension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the most common causes of endocrine hypertension in dogs and cats.
- To highlight the increasing recognition of secondary hypertension.
- To differentiate between idiopathic and secondary hypertension in veterinary patients.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on endocrine hypertension in companion animals.
- Analysis of studies differentiating idiopathic and secondary hypertension.
- Examination of diagnostic criteria for secondary hypertension.
Main Results:
- Secondary hypertension is the most common form in dogs and cats.
- Endocrine and renal disease are key subcategories of secondary hypertension.
- Primary hyperaldosteronism is an increasingly recognized secondary cause.
Conclusions:
- The classification of hypertension requires re-evaluation based on new evidence.
- Endocrine hypertension is a significant concern in veterinary cardiology.
- Further research into secondary causes of hypertension in animals is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Hormonal Regulation of Blood Pressure
Endocrinal or hormonal intervention in the cardiovascular system is predominantly exerted by the catecholamines - epinephrine and norepinephrine, as well as a slew of hormones that interact with renal function to modulate blood volume.
Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
The adrenal medulla releases epinephrine and norepinephrine, catecholamines that enhance and extend the sympathetic or "fight or flight" physiological response. These hormones escalate heart rate and the force of contraction while...
Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
The adrenal medulla releases epinephrine and norepinephrine, catecholamines that enhance and extend the sympathetic or "fight or flight" physiological response. These hormones escalate heart rate and the force of contraction while...
01:33Hormonal Regulation
The renin-aldosterone system is an endocrine system which guides the renal absorption of water and electrolytes, thus managing blood pressure and osmoregulation. Activation of the system begins in the kidneys with a small cluster of cells adjacent to the afferent and efferent blood vessels of the renal corpuscle. As the nephrons are filtering blood, juxtaglomerular cells monitor blood pressure. If they detect a decrease in pressure, they release the hormone renin into the bloodstream.
01:29Hypertension 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,...
01:27Major Hormones and Their Functions
Hormones, the biochemical messengers produced by endocrine glands, are pivotal in regulating bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. Each hormone's balance is crucial; imbalances can lead to significant physiological disruptions. Major hormones include oxytocin, cortisol, epinephrine, estrogen, testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon.
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and lactation.
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and lactation.
01:18Hypertension 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...
01:19Regulation of Hormone Secretion
Regulation of hormone secretion is a finely tuned orchestration driven by various types of stimuli, encompassing neural, humoral, and hormonal signals. Environmental cues instigate neural stimuli, where action potentials traverse nerve fibers to reach their designated targets. An illustrative scenario is the body's response to stress, wherein the sympathetic nervous system releases epinephrine from the adrenal glands, inducing the well-known 'fight or flight' reaction.
Humoral stimuli,...
Humoral stimuli,...