The natural history of hypertension in turkeys

1. Variables involved in the genesis of hypertension in male broad-breasted white turkeys include social environment, obesity and high salt intake. 2. The hypertension is characterized by low plasma renin activity and, with increasing age, normal to high plasma aldosterone. 3. Medionecrosis of the abdominal aorta is a common pathological finding. 4. The absence of atherosclerotic plaques is probably related to the high concentrations of alpha-lipoproteins.