This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Linas, S. L. Articles by Marzec-Calvert, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Linas, S. L. Articles by Marzec-Calvert, R.

Hypertension, Vol 8, 990-996, Copyright © 1986 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

Potassium depletion ameliorates hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats

SL Linas and R Marzec-Calvert

The hemodynamic effect of moderate K+ depletion in hypertension is unknown. Since severe K+ depletion reduces systemic vascular resistance in normotensive rats, we determined the effect of K+ depletion on the natural history of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and SHR were fed a K+-replete, a moderately K+-depleted, or a severely K+-depleted diet. After 6 weeks, systemic vascular resistance was reduced by 25% in WKY on the severely K+-depleted diet while mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance were comparable in WKY on the other two diets. In SHR on the severely K+-depleted diet for 6 weeks, muscle K+ was reduced by 23% and growth rate by 65%. In SHR on the moderately K+-depleted diet, growth rate was reduced by 23% after 3 weeks. By 6 weeks, however, muscle K+ was reduced by 5 to 6% and growth rate was comparable to that in SHR receiving the K+-replete diet. The administration of either K+-depleted diet prevented the development of hypertension (systolic blood pressure: severely depleted, 116 +/- 4; moderately depleted, 122 +/- 3; K+-replete, 155 +/- 5 mm Hg; p less than 0.001 compared with both K+- depleted groups) and reversed established hypertension (systolic blood pressure: severely depleted, 116 +/- 4; moderately depleted, 128 +/- 3; K+-replete, 171 +/- 5 mm Hg; p less than 0.001 compared with both K+- depleted groups). The protective effect of K+ depletion was mediated by a 40% reduction in systemic vascular resistance. These results suggest that K+ depletion has a potent antihypertensive effect in SHR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. N. IBRAHIM and T. H. HOSTETTER Role of Dietary Potassium in the Hyperaldosteronism and Hypertension of the Remnant Kidney Model J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., April 1, 2000; 11(4): 625 - 631. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. I. Shapiro, A. Banerjee, O. K. Reiss, and N. Elkins Acute and chronic hypokalemia sensitize the isolated heart to hypoxic injury Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, May 1, 1998; 274(5): H1598 - H1604. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. G. Krishna and S. C. Kapoor Potassium Depletion Exacerbates Essential Hypertension Ann Intern Med, July 15, 1991; 115(2): 77 - 83. [Abstract] [PDF]