ALTERED BLOOD-PRESSURE, RENAL TUBULAR FUNCTION AND LEVELS OF CIRCULATING INHIBITORS OF NA-K-ATPASE IN MATURE SHR EXPOSED TO LOW-SALT DIET IN THE PERINATAL-PERIOD

1. It has been shown previously that low salt diet, confined to the pe rinatal period only, reduces blood pressure (BP) and sodium retention in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) offspring at maturity when com pared with those given high salt diet. 2. In this study it is shown th at such high salt diets are associated with an increased level of circ ulating Na-K-ATPase inhibitor (CINK) activity. 3. Animals given perina tal high salt diet have a significantly greater tubular reabsorptive c apacity when compared with those given low salt diet. 4. The finding o f a high level of circulating Na-K-ATPase inhibitory material in the f ace of increased renal tubular capacity and blood pressure suggests th at while this inhibitory material may play a role in the elevated bloo d pressure of animals given high salt diet, it cannot cause the elevat ed rate of fluid reabsorption.