Effect of Chloride on Blood Pressure and Sympathetic Nervous System Activity in Deoxycorticosterone Acetate-Treated Rats

Abstract

The effect of selective chloride loading on blood pressure and sympathetic nervous system activity was studied in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-treated rats. The rats fed a normal sodium-high chloride and fed a high sodium chloride diet had higher blood pressure and lower cardiac norepinephrine concentrations than those fed a normal sodium chloride diet. Furthermore, cardiac norepinephrine concentrations were significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure. These data suggest that selective chloride loading can raise blood pressure in DOCA-treated rats due to augmented sympathetic nervous system activity.