Microvascular pressure, surface area, and permeability in isolated hindquarters of SHR

The transvascular escape rate (TER) of labeled albumin is reported to increase in essential hypertension. However, the mechanism for this augmented rate of protein efflux is uncertain and may be related to increased microvascular permeability, surface area, and/or pressure. To determine the possible contributions of these mechanisms to increased TER of protein, the osmotic reflection coefficient for total plasma protein, capillary filtration coefficient, and effective capillary pressure were estimated in isolated hindquarters of age-matched (12-13 wk) spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), and Wistar (WR) rats. Estimates of the reflection and filtration coefficients were not significantly different in SHR, WKY, and WR. However, capillary pressure was significantly greater in SHR than in normotensive controls. These results indicate that 1) skeletal muscle microvascular permeability and surface area are similar in SHR, WKY, and WR; 2) effective capillary pressure is greater in SHR than WKY or WR; and 3) if TER for protein is elevated in hypertensive skeletal muscle, the primary mechanism for this process may be increased convective transport of protein secondary to elevated microvascular hydrostatic pressure.