Renal Na+-K+-ATPase in Okamoto and Dahl hypertensive rats

Plasma renin activity (PRA, ng AI/ml/hr), plasma aldosterone (PA, ng%) and renal Na+-K+-ATPase (micron m PO 4/mg protein/hr) were measured in tow groups of eight spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), two groups of eight Dahl salt hypertensive rats (SS), and their controls (16 normal Wistar and 16 salt-resistant rats). Measurements were made in one group after 2 weeks on a normal (0.48% sodium) and in the other group after 2 weeks on a low (0.01% sodium) sodium diet. After a normal sodium diet, PRA and PA were lower in both groups of hypertensive rats than in control normotensive animals. Renal NA+-K+-ATPase was lower in SS than in controls: in SHR it was not different from control. On a sodium-free diet, SHR exhibited a rise in renal Na+-K+-ATPase but PRA and PA remained low. In contrast, under similar conditions PRA, PA, and renal Na+-K-ATPase increased in SS rats, although to a lesser extent than in SR. These results suggest that under basal conditions and after low salt diet, renal Na+-K+-ATPase activity in SHR behaves as it does in normal rats. However, the changes are independent of PA in SHR. The reduction in PRA and PA in SS suggest volume expansion hypertension. IN SHR, volume expansion is not present, and renal Na+-K+-ATPase is not altered. Enzyme activity is lower in SS than in SHR and control. This suggests that some factor that results from volume expansion may be responsible for inhibition of renal Na+-K+-ATPase.