Potassium depletion ameliorates hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Abstract

The hemodynamic effect of moderate K+ depletion in hypertension is unknown. Since severe K+ depletion reduces systemic vascular resistance in normotensive rats, we determined the effect of K+ depletion on the natural history of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and SHR were fed a K+-replete, a moderately K+-depleted, or a severely K+-depleted diet. After 6 weeks, systemic vascular resistance was reduced by 25% in WKY on the severely K+-depleted diet while mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance were comparable in WKY on the other two diets. In SHR on the severely K+-depleted diet for 6 weeks, muscle K+ was reduced by 23% and growth rate by 65%. In SHR on the moderately K+-depleted diet, growth rate was reduced by 23% after 3 weeks. By 6 weeks, however, muscle K+ was reduced by 5 to 6% and growth rate was comparable to that in SHR receiving the K+-replete diet. The administration of either K+-depleted diet prevented the development of hypertension (systolic blood pressure: severely depleted, 116 +/- 4; moderately depleted, 122 +/- 3; K+-replete, 155 +/- 5 mm Hg; p less than 0.001 compared with both K+-depleted groups) and reversed established hypertension (systolic blood pressure: severely depleted, 116 +/- 4; moderately depleted, 128 +/- 3; K+-replete, 171 +/- 5 mm Hg; p less than 0.001 compared with both K+-depleted groups). The protective effect of K+ depletion was mediated by a 40% reduction in systemic vascular resistance. These results suggest that K+ depletion has a potent antihypertensive effect in SHR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Authors: S L Linas, R Marzec-Calvert
• Journal: Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979) (Hypertension) Vol. 8 Issue 11 Pg. 990-6 (Nov 1986) ISSN: 0194-911X [Print] United States
• PMID: 3770874 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Potassium

Topics

• Animals
• Blood Pressure
• Disease Models, Animal
• Hypertension (physiopathology, prevention & control, therapy)
• Male
• Potassium (administration & dosage)
• Potassium Deficiency (physiopathology)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred SHR (physiology)
• Rats, Inbred Strains (physiology)
• Rats, Inbred WKY (physiology)
• Vascular Resistance