Pressor Response to NaCI Solution Administered Intracerebroventricularly or Intracisternally to Conscious Normotensive and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

We examined the central action of NaCl on blood pressure using intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) and intracisternal (i.c.) injections of hypertonic NaCl solution in conscious, unrestrained spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. The dose-dependent pressor response produced by i.c.v. hypertonic NaCl was greater in SHR than in WKY rats, while the dose-related pressor action produced by i.c. NaCl did not differ between the two strains. The hyperresponsiveness to i.c.v. NaCl in SHR was abolished by pretreatment with an i.c.v. injection of the angiotensin II (ANG II) analogue 1-Sar, 8-IIeu ANG II. Both ANG II and a combination of ANG II and NaCl given by i.c.v. injection had a greater pressor response in SHR than in WKY rats, although both ANG II and phenylephrine given intravenously elevated blood pressure to the same extent in both strains. Furthermore, i.c.v. ANG II both with and without hypertonic NaCl caused dipsogenic behaviour which lasted longer in SHR than in WKY rats. This response to i.c.v. hypertonic NaCl without ANG II was not substantially different between the two strains. Intracisternal hypertonic NaCl did not induce drinking behaviour. These observations suggest that in the SHR, the third ventricle rather than the brain stem is a more sensitive area to NaCl. The brain renin-angiotensin system in the SHR may play an important role in this accelerated pressor response and may be responsible, at least to some extent, for the enhanced reaction to chronic oral salt loading.