The role of renal catecholamines in hypertension

We have found increased renal alpha 2-adrenoceptor density and a defect in prostaglandin and parathyroid stimulated adenylate cyclase in two genetic forms of rat hypertension. Changes in serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels suggest biologic significance to this defective adenylate cyclase response. Our hypothesis is that one or more of these defects contribute to excess renal retention of sodium and increase vascular resistance of genetically hypertensive rats and humans with essential hypertension who have similar abnormalities of calcium and PTH.