Lack of the serotonin transporter does not prevent mineralocorticoid hypertension in rat and mouse

We hypothesized that lack of a functional serotonin transporter (SERT) would increase basal blood pressure and enhance the development of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension compared to wild type (WT) controls. Mean arterial blood pressure was measured in WT and SERT knockout (KO) mice and rat models through radiotelemetry. Basal blood pressures were not different between respective WT and KO. Moreover, blood pressure elevated similarly (∼ 50 mm Hg) in all strains given DOCA and salt. Thus, the lack of functional SERT did not prevent development of DOCA-salt induced hypertension or modify basal blood pressure significantly.