Platelet intracellular pH in essential hypertensives and normotensives

Using the intracellularly trapped pH-sensitive fluorescent dye, BCECF, basal intracellular pH was measured in 18 essential hypertensives and 23 normotensives. The average intracellular pH was slightly, but not significantly, lower in the hypertensives (7.173 +/- 0.017 versus 7.211 +/- 0.014, P = 0.09). Although basal intracellular pH is not significantly altered in hypertension, abnormal regulation of intracellular pH during growth factor or agonist stimulation may play a role in the development or maintenance of hypertension.