Properties of circulating leukocytes in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The factors responsible for predisposition to progressive organ injury and vascular complications in arterial hypertension are uncertain. Recent evidence shows that leukocytes participate in cardiovascular conditions for which hypertension is a risk factor. Therefore, there is a need to define the properties of circulating leukocytes in hypertensives. There are about twice as many circulating leukocytes in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) compared with their normotensive controls, the Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs). The SHR neutrophils are viscoelastic and similar to neutrophils in WKYs but exhibit lower deformability in short-term elastic deformation. Mature SHRs have elevated levels of spontaneous pseudopod formation. Mild stimulation with N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe or platelet-activating factor (10(-8) M) results in a significantly enhanced level of neutrophil pseudopod formation in SHRs but not in WKYs. SHRs exhibit higher levels of spontaneous superoxide formation. Alkaline phosphatase content of individual circulating neutrophils in SHRs is on average lower while plasma levels of alkaline phosphatase in the same samples are elevated in the SHRs. Spontaneous degranulation of SHR neutrophils is also detectable with myeloperoxidase measurements. Such activity of circulating leukocytes poses a significant risk for vascular cytotoxicity in the hypertensive rats.