[Elevation of intraplatelet free Ca2+ in primary hypertension in man and the rat]

Cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations were measured in platelets from hypertensive and normotensive humans and rats with the use of the fluorescent indicator Quin-2/AM. Without external Ca2+ added, no difference was observed between platelets of hypertensive patients and those normotensive subjects or between platelets of spontaneously hypertensive rats and those of the normotensive Wistar Kyoto and regular Wistar rats. In the presence of 0.5-1 mM external Ca2+, the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations were higher both in patients with essential hypertension and rats with genetic hypertension than in their respective normotensive controls. These results suggest that primary hypertension is accompanied by a disequilibrium between cellular Ca2+ influx, storage and extrusion. Such a characteristic if present in other excitable cells and in particular in vascular smooth muscle cells may play a major role in the rise of peripheral resistances.