N. Ilhami et al., INSULINEMIA AND PANCREATIC ALPHA(2)-ADRENOCEPTORS IN SALT-SENSITIVE (SBH) AND SALT-RESISTANT (SBN) SABRA RATS - EFFECT OF HIGH-SALT DIET, American journal of hypertension, 11(7), 1998, pp. 790-795
Studies in humans have suggested that hyperinsulinemia might play an i
mportant role in salt sensitivity and in the later development of high
blood pressure. This possibility has been tested in this study on Sab
ra rats, an animal model of salt-induced hypertension. Salt-sensitive
(SBH) and salt-resistant (SBN) Sabra rats have been submitted to eithe
r a normal (0.2% NaCI) or a high salt (8% NaCl) diet for 6 weeks. Comp
arisons of blood pressure, basal glucose and insulin levels, and insul
in response to glucose overload (1 g/kg) have been made. As pancreatic
alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors are implicated in the control of insuli
n release, their densities have been determined on plasma membranes by
saturation studies with [H-3]-RX-821002 as the specific radioligand.
Under normal diet, blood pressures were respectively 133 +/- 9 and 108
+/- 10 mm Hg (n = 6) in SBH and SBN. Basal glucose and insulin levels
and insulin response to glucose overload were found to be significant
ly higher in SBH than in SBN. In contrast, alpha(2)-adrenergic recepto
r densities were lower (P <.001) in SBH when compared to SBN. High sal
t diet increased (P <.01) blood pressure, decreased basal glucose (P <
.01) and insulin (P <.001) levels only in SBH. However, when compared
to SBN the insulin response to glucose overload was maintained higher
in SBH. alpha(2)-Adrenergic receptor densities and difference between
SBH and SBN did not differ from those found in normal diet. In conclus
ion, the salt-induced high blood pressure of salt-sensitive Sabra rats
is not associated with hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. Indee
d, an improvement in the insulin sensitivity appears to be induced by
either a high salt diet or high blood pressure. Am J Hypertens 1998;11
:790-795 (C) 1998 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd.