Effect of sodium on blood pressure, cardiac hypertrophy, and angiotensin receptor expression in rats

Background Sodium-induced hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy is related to pressure and volume overload. Methods Wistar rats were exposed to low and high sodium diet for 8 weeks. Angiotensin II receptor mRNA, abundance of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), vasoconstriction of aortic rings, and angiotensin II-induced calcium increase were investigated. Results Rats on high sodium diet showed significantly elevated blood pressure. Heart weight, AT1 receptor mRNA in cardiac and aortic tissues, and abundance of p38MAPK were significantly increased in rats on high sodium diet. Conclusions Increased AT1 receptor expression and angiotensin II-induced calcium increase are compensatory effects in sodium-induced hypertension.