Deuterium oxide normalizes blood pressure and elevated cytosolic calcium in rats with ethanol-induced hypertension

This study examined the effect of 10% deuterium oxide (D2O) in drinking water on systolic blood pressure, platelet cytosolic free calcium, aortic calcium uptake and renal vascular changes in rats with ethanol-induced hypertension. Eighteen male Wistar-Kyoto rats, age seven weeks, were divided into three groups of six animals each. Group I was given water and groups II and III, 5% ethanol in drinking water for the next seven weeks. After one week, systolic blood pressure in the ethanol-treated rats was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in rats drinking water. After seven weeks, animals in group I were continued on water, group II on 5% ethanol, group III on 5% ethanol but with the addition of 10% D2O in their drinking water for the next seven weeks. After 14 weeks, systolic blood pressure, platelet cytosolic free calcium and aortic calcium uptake was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in group II rats (given ethanol for 14 weeks) compared with rats from other groups. Ethanol-treated rats also showed smooth muscle hyperplasia with some thickening of the wall and narrowing of the lumen in small arteries and arterioles of the kidney. D2O given to ethanol-treated rats normalized their blood pressure, platelet cytosolic free calcium, aortic calcium uptake and attenuated renal vascular changes.