This study examined the control of renal hemodynamics and tubular function, as well as systemic hemodynamics, during obesity-induced hypertension in chronically instrumented conscious dogs. Mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, and heart rate were monitored 24 hours a day using computerized methods, water and electrolyte balances were measured daily, and renal hemodynamics were measured each week during the control period and 5 weeks of a high-fat diet. After 7 to 10 days of control measurements, 0.5 to 0.9 kg of cooked beef fat was added to the regular diet, and sodium intake was maintained constant at 76 mmol/d throughout the study. After 5 weeks of the high-fat diet, body weight increased from 24.0±1.0 to 35.9±4.9 kg, mean arterial pressure increased from 83±5 to 100±4 mm Hg, cardiac output increased from 2.86 ±0.27 to 4.45 ±0.55 L/min, and heart rate rose from 68 ±5 to 107 ±9 beats per minute. Associated with the hypertension was an increase in cumulative sodium balance to 507 ±107 mmol after 35 days and a rise in sodium iothalamate space, an index of extracellular fluid volume, to 131 ±4% of control. Sodium retention was due to increased tubular reabsorption, because glomerular filtration rate and effective renal plasma flow increased throughout the 5 weeks of the high-fat diet, averaging 135 ±4% and 149±19% of control, respectively, during the fifth week of the high-fat diet. Plasma renin activity and plasma insulin concentration increased from 0.46±0.12 ng angiotensin I/mL per hour and 11.1±2.6 (iXS/mL, respectively, to 1.10±0.23 ng angiotensin I/mL per hour and 30.1 ±7.0 fiU/mL after 5 weeks. Because decreased sodium excretion occurred despite elevated mean arterial pressure, obesity-induced hypertension in dogs is associated with a shift of renal pressure natriuresis that is caused by increased tubular reabsorption, although the exact mechanism by which this occurs is still unclear. W eight gain appears to be an important factor in elevating blood pressure in many essential hypertensive individuals. 14 Epidemiological studies have shown that hypertension is more prevalent in obese than in nonobese individuals and that blood pressure is correlated to body weight, even in normotensive subjects. "5 Experimental studies have demonstrated that weight gain, even over a period of a few weeks, consistently elevates blood pressure and weight loss decreases blood pressure independent of changes in sodium intake. "10 Although this association between obesity and hypertension is widely recognized, the mechanisms responsible for weight-related changes in blood pressure have not been elucidated.Much of the evidence for various mechanisms postulated to cause obesity-induced hypertension derives from studies that have attempted to correlate various abnormalities in obesity with hypertension. Establishing cause-and-effect relations has been hampered by the lack of suitable animal models that mimic obesityinduced hypertension in humans and that allow sequen-

The present study was designed to quantitate the role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in determining the chronic relationships between arterial pressure (AP), renal hemodynamics, and Na excretion. In six control dogs, Na balance was achieved during chronic step increases in Na intake from 5 to 500 meq/day with small increases in AP (<7 mmHg), moderate increases in GFR (19%), and decreases in filtration fraction (FF) and plasma renin activity. Similar increases in Na intake in six dogs with angiotensin II (AII) fixed, due to constant intravenous infusion of 5 ng . kg-1 . min-1 AII, caused large increases in AP (42%), GFR (31%) FF, and calculated renal Na reabsorption (TNa) above control. In six dogs with AII formation blocked with SQ 14,225, Na balance at intakes of 5-80 meq/day occurred at reduced AP, GFR, FF, and TNa, although plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) was not substantially different from that in control dogs. At Na intakes above 240 meq/day, AP was not altered by SQ 14,225. These data indicate that during chronic changes in Na intake the RAS plays a major role, independent of changes in PAC, in allowing Na balance without large changes in GFR or AP. The mechanism whereby AII conserves Na chronically is through increased TNa, since steady-state TNa was increased by AII and decreased by SQ 14,225.

This study examined the role of increased renal arterial pressure (RAP) in renal escape from the chronic Na-retaining effects of angiotensin II (ANG II). When RAP was allowed to increase during ANG II infusion (5 ng X kg-1 X min-1), urinary Na excretion (UNaV) decreased transiently on the first day but there was no significant change in Na iothalamate space or cumulative Na balance when ANG II infusion was continued for 6 days. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) rose from 100 +/- 3 to 132 +/- 2 mmHg after 3 days and remained near that level for the next 5 days of ANG II infusion. When RAP was prevented from rising with a servo-controlled aortic occluder, UNaV remained below control even after 6 days of ANG II infusion, cumulative Na balance increased by 210 +/- 37 meq, and Na iothalamate space rose by 1,158 +/- 244 ml. MAP did not plateau when RAP was servo-controlled during ANG II infusion but continued to rise and after 6 days averaged 157 +/- 3 mmHg. In three of the eight dogs in which RAP was servo-controlled during ANG II infusion, Na and water retention became so severe that MAP increased to 165-180 mmHg and pulmonary edema developed within 4-6 days. These data suggest that a rise in RAP is essential in allowing the kidneys to escape from the chronic Na-retaining actions of ANG II and in attaining Na balance and a stable level of MAP without severe volume expansion.

This study examined the importance of changes in renal hemodynamics and renal artery pressure (RAP) in allowing the kidneys to escape from the chronic sodium-retaining effects of aldosterone (Aldo). In five dogs in which RAP was permitted to increase during Aldo infusion (14 micrograms/kg/day), sodium excretion (UNaV) and fractional sodium excretion (FENa) decreased markedly on Day 1 and then returned to control on Days 2 to 4 of Aldo infusion as RAP and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) increased 15 to 19 mm Hg and 20% to 24%, respectively, and remained near these levels during 7 days of Aldo infusion. In seven dogs in which RAP was prevented from increasing with an electronically servo-controlled aortic occluder, UNaV decreased from 256 +/- 3 to 117 +/- 9 mEq/day on the first day and remained at 70 to 80 mEq/day below sodium intake for 7 days of Aldo infusion. Cumulative sodium balance and sodium iothalamate space increased 610 +/- 39 mEq and 3729 +/- 397 ml when RAP was servo-controlled, causing ascites in most of the dogs, while mean arterial pressure did not plateau but continued to rise to 59 +/- 3 mm Hg above control after 7 days of Aldo infusion. When the servo-controller was stopped and RAP was allowed to rise while Aldo infusion was continued, GFR rose to 126% to 136% of control, FENa increased markedly, UNaV increased to 579 +/- 64 mEq/day on the first day, and the dogs returned to normal sodium balance. These data indicate that an increase in RAP, which raises GFR and FENa, is essential in allowing the kidneys to escape from the chronic sodium-retaining action of Aldo and to achieve sodium balance and a stable level of arterial pressure without severe volume expansion and ascites.