ROLE OF NITRIC-OXIDE IN REGULATION OF LONG-TERM PRESSURE-NATRIURESIS RELATIONSHIP IN DAHL RATS

The aim of this study was to deter mine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the development of salt-induced hypertension in the Brookhaven strain of Dahl rats. Six- to seven-week-old conscious salt-sensitive (S) and salt-resistant (R) rats with indwelling arterial and venous catheters received low-, normal-, and high-sodium intakes sequentially over a 16-day period, and L-arginine was infused intravenously at 2 or 4 mg . kg(-1). min(-1) over this time; The S rats had an impaired NO production as evidenced by a decreased urinary nitrate plus nitrite excretion. The administration of the low or high dose of L-arginine increased the whole body NO production of the S rats to that of the control R rats, and the high dose of L-arginine prevented the shift of long-term pressure-natriuresis relationship, the elevation of arterial pressure, and the increase in salt sensitivity of arterial pressure in the S rats. The sodium and water balances were not different between the age-matched R and S rats. In conclusion, a continuous infusion of L-arginine prevented both the changes in the pressure-natriuresis relationship and the development of salt-induced hypertension in Dahl S rats.