Effect of glucocorticoid deficiency on arterial pressure in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract

The effect of selective glucocorticoid or mineralocorticoid deficiency upon arterial pressure was evaluated in unanesthetized adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Adrenalectomized SHR were replaced with 6 micrograms/24 h aldosterone (ALDO), 10 microgram/24 h dexamethasone (DEX), or both aldosterone and dexamethasone (ALDO + DEX) by IP osmotic mini-pumps. These were compared to sham-operated SHR (SHAM) and adrenalectomized SHR given no steroid replacement (ADX). Drinking fluid for all groups was 1% NaCl + 2.5% glucose. Six days after adrenalectomy, intra-arterial mean arterial pressure (MAP) fell from 174 +/- 2 to 149 +/- 6 mm Hg in ALDO (n = 8, P less than .01) and from 179 +/- 4 to 125 +/- 4 in ADX (n = 6, P less than .01). In contrast, MAP rose in SHAM from 171 +/- 4 to 179 +/- 5 mm Hg (n = 7, P less than .01), in ALDO + DEX from 161 +/- 3 to 184 +/- 4 mm Hg (n = 7, P less than .01), and in DEX from 162 +/- 2 to 181 +/- 4 mm Hg (n = 7, P less than .01). The results indicate that when diet salt intake is high, glucocorticoid action is necessary for the full expression of hypertension in adult SHR.