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Increased salt-sensitivity in endothelial nitric oxide synthase–knockout mice

  • Leonard, Allison M. Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
  • Chafe, Linda L. Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
  • Montani, Jean-Pierre Institute of Physiology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
  • Vliet, Bruce N. Van Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
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    08.12.2006
Published in:
  • American Journal of Hypertension. - 2006, vol. 19, no. 12, p. 1264-1269
Sodium-dependent hypertension
mice
nitric oxide
nitric oxide synthase
blood pressure
English Background Although impaired nitric oxide production contributes importantly to salt- sensitivity, the role of the endothelial isoform of nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) has received little attention. In the present study we compared the effects of a high-salt diet on the blood pressure response of eNOS knockout (eNOS−/−) and control (eNOS+/+) mice. Methods Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, pulse pressure, and activity levels were recorded by telemetry in mice fed a regular-salt diet (0.7% NaCl) followed by 6 weeks on either a high-salt (8% NaCl) or regular-salt diet. Results The eNOS−/− mice exhibited a 15% increase in MAP and a 2- to 2.5-fold increase in salt-sensitivity relative to the control strain. Salt-induced increases in MAP were well sustained in eNOS−/−, whereas in eNOS+/+ the initial increase was biphasic. The effects of salt on MAP were particularly pronounced during locomotor activity, during the dark phase, and at the peak levels of MAP recorded over the course of the day. The high-salt diet also led to a transient increase in the proportion of time spent active. Levels of heart rate and pulse pressure were relatively unaffected by the high- salt diet. Conclusion The eNOS−/− mice exhibit an increased blood pressure response to a high-salt diet. This finding suggests that eNOS normally provides an important contribution to the body’s adaptation to a salt load and that reduced production of NO by eNOS may promote salt-sensitivity and salt-induced hypertension.
Faculty
Faculté des sciences et de médecine
Department
Département de Médecine
Language
  • English
Classification
Biology
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https://folia.unifr.ch/unifr/documents/300275
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