Changes in saline and water intakes in bromocriptine-treated genetically hypertensive and normotensive rats

1. We have previously reported on the effects of a 13-day intraperitoneal infusion of bromocriptine delivered by osmotic pump on blood pressure, plasma and pituitary PRL levels in genetically hypertensive (GH) rats and their normotensive (NT) controls. This paper reports further on that study in describing the changes in saline and water intakes in rats as a result of bromocriptine (BRC) treatment. 2. In the GH rats, bromocriptine did not have any significant effect on saline or water intake. 3. In the NT rats, bromocriptine significantly decreased saline intake and increased water intake. 4. The saline intake in the vehicle-treated GH rats was significantly lower than that in the vehicle-treated NT rats while the water intake was not significantly different. 5. These results indicate that differences exist between the GH and NT rats with regard to their saline and water intakes and their responses to chronic bromocriptine treatment. The changes in saline and water intakes in the GH rats seem to be different from those seen in the spontaneously hypertensive rat in another study.