KIDNEYS FROM NORMOTENSIVE DONORS LOWER BLOOD-PRESSURE IN YOUNG TRANSPLANTED SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Single transplanted kidneys from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) have been shown to elicit hypertension in genetically normotensive re cipients. This study was designed to investigate the effects of single transplanted kidneys from genetically normotensive donors [Biobreedin g (BB)/Ottawa Karlsburg (OK) rats] on blood pressure in SHR recipients . The following groups were formed: group 1 (n = 11), SHR donors and S HR recipients; group 2 (n = 15), BB/OK donors and SHR recipients; and group 3 (n = 8), BE/OK donors and BE/OK recipients. Recipients receive d antihypertensive treatment (hydralazine) from weaning until renal tr ansplantation at the age of 9 wk and immunosuppressive treatment (anti -CD4 antibody and cyclosporine A) for 3 wk starting on the day of tran splantation. Six weeks after transplantation, intraarterially measured blood pressure and heart weight-to-body weight ratio were highest in group 1, intermediate ingroup 2, and lowest in group 3. There were no significant differences with respect to plasma urea and creatinine con centrations among the three groups. These results support the hypothes is that hypertension in renal-transplanted SHR depends in part on the genetic background of the transplanted kidney.