EFFECT OF CHLORIDE ON RENAL BLOOD-FLOW IN ANGIOTENSIN-II INDUCED HYPERTENSION

The effect of selective dietary sodium and (or) chloride loading on blood pressure and renal blood flow (RBF) in the rat angiotensin II (AII) model of hypertension was determined. AII (200 ng/min) or saline was infused intraperitoneally. Diets were provided with either high or low concentrations of sodium, chloride or both ions for 22 days. The blood pressure of saline-treated animals was not increased by the high sodium chloride diet. Animals on a high sodium, high chloride diet had a significantly greater increase of blood pressure at 8, 15, 18, and 22 days of AII infusion compared with AII-treated animals on a low sodium, low chloride diet (p < 0.05). Selective dietary loading of either high sodium or chloride in AII-treated rats produced no greater elevation of blood pressure than AII with the low sodium, low chloride diet. Selective high dietary chloride was associated with a lower RBF in AII- and vehicle-treated rats compared with low dietary chloride. The chloride effect on RBF was greater in AII-treated animals. In conclusion, both sodium and chloride are necessary to produce the maximum increase of blood pressure in AII animals. AII enhances the decreased RBF induced by dietary chloride.