Fluid volumes during onset of spontaneous hypertension in rats

Body fluid volumes were examined in young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and in two strains of age-matched normotensive controls to ascertain whether expanded plasma volume (PV) or extracellular fluid volume (ECFV) was associated with onset of spontaneous hypertension. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured in conscious male SHR, Wistar-Kyoto normotensive (WKY), and American Wistar normotensive (NR) rats 3 h after arterial cannulation. At age 10-14 days no differences in MAP or PV (determine with 125I-albumin) were found between SHR and WKY. At age 18-43 days, SHR had elevated MAP and a small but significant elevation in total body water volume (TBWV; wet weight minus dry weight) compared to WKY and NR; no differences among the three groups were found in PV or ECFV (estimated with inulin). These results provide no evidence that expanded PV or ECFV plays a role in the pathogenic mechanisms of spontaneous hypertension, but do not exclude the possibility of altered vascular compliance. The slightly elevated TBWV in SHR may be related to reduced body fat in SHR.