Segmental renal vascular resistance in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Renal hemodynamics were studied during different stages of development of hypertension in unanesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In SHR at 4 wks of age mean arterial pressure (MAP) was higher than in age-matched Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY); however, renal blood flow (RBF) and renal vascular resistance (RVR) were not different between these two groups. Mean values of RVR and MAP in 8- and 12-wk-old SHR were significantly greater than those of age-matched WKY. Both RBF of 8- and 12-wk-old SHR were significantly lower than the corresponding values of WKY. Afferent arteriolar diameter (AAD) was measured with a microsphere method. AAD was not different between 4-wk-old SHR and WKY; however, the AAD of 8-wk-old (16.3 +/- 0.23 micrometers, n = 5) and 12-wk-old (17.4 +/- 0.48, n = 5) SHR were significantly smaller than those of respective control WKY (17.3 +/- 0.34, n = 4, P less than 0.05; 19.3 +/- 0.12, n = 5, P less than 0.01). Calculated preglomerular (Rpre) and postglomerular resistances (Rpost) of 12-wk-old SHR were increased 96 and 129% when compared with respective segmental resistances of the control WKY. The decrease in AAD of 12-wk-old SHR was sufficient to account for a 33% increase in Rpre. After the rats were treated with hydralazine (0.5 mg/kg iv), MAP, RBF, and RVR of SHR were not different from the control WKY values. Rpre and Rpost of SHR were substantially decreased; however, vasodilation occurred at vessels proximal and distal to the afferent arteriole because AAD was not altered. Our results indicate that increased RVR in SHR involves increases in Rpre and Rpost.