High Salt Upregulates Ca2+-Sensing Receptor Expression and Ca2+-Induced Relaxation of Contracted Mesenteric Arteries from Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rats

High Ca(2+) lowers blood pressure in hypertension, but the mechanism is not clear. The missing link may be the perivascular sensory nerve Ca(2+)-sensing receptor (CaSR) that mediates a vasodilator system after activation by interstitial Ca(2+). Our results show that high salt increased CaSR expression in mesenteric arteries as well as Ca(2+) relaxation of contracted mesenteric arteries from salt-sensitive (SS) rats. The CaSR was expressed as a doublet (≈120–150 kDa) in arteries from animals fed a high-salt diet for 1–4 weeks. The higher molecular weight glycosylated protein increased in arteries from SS animals; however, expression of the low molecular mass high-mannose protein decreased over 4 weeks of feeding the diet. In tissues from salt-resistant (SR) rats, the diet decreased CaSR expression after 4 weeks. Ca(2+) relaxation of mesenteric arteries under phenylephrine tone increased in SS rats but decreased in arteries from SR rats fed the high-salt diet. Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels have a larger role in Ca(2+) relaxation of arteries in SR than SS rats. The data suggest that high salt epigenetically regulates the receptor at the translational level in vivo and that the in vitro effect of Ca(2+) is on receptor trafficking and signaling. In conclusion, upregulated expression of the CaSR in salt sensitivity increased receptor-mediated vascular relaxation. These findings show that CaSR signaling may compensate for changes in the vasculature in salt-sensitive hypertension. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The perivascular sensory nerve Ca(2+)-sensing receptor (CaSR) mediates Ca(2+) relaxation of isolated mesenteric arteries under tension. This receptor may therefore play a significant role in relaxation of resistance arteries in vivo, thus explaining the blood pressure–lowering effect of dietary Ca(2+). The present studies describe the effect of high salt-induced upregulation of the CaSR in salt-sensitive rats and the roles played by Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels and nitric oxide in Ca(2+) responses.