Impaired baroreflex control of vascular resistance in prehypertensive Dahl S rats

The purpose of this study was to examine baroreflex control of vascular resistance and heart rate in prehypertensive Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) and salt-resistant (DR) rats. Urethan-anesthetized normotensive DS rats demonstrated significantly impaired baroreflex control of both hindlimb vascular resistance and heart rate. This impairment was not secondary to elevated arterial pressure since blood pressure did not differ between DR and DS rats fed a low sodium diet. Vascular baroreflex responses were shown to depend on the integrity of efferent sympathetic innervation and to be mediated by the sinoaortic afferent arterial baroreceptors. No strain difference was observed for hindlimb vasodilation produced by papaverine or graded doses of nitroprusside, indicating that differences in resistance vessel vasodilator capacity or responsiveness could not account for differences in baroreflex responses. Since impaired baroreflex control was evident in DS rats prior to any elevation in arterial pressure, this abnormality may contribute to the DS rat's genetic propensity to develop hypertension.