We used extracellular single-cell recording procedures to characterize the chemical and thermal sensitivity of the rat geniculate ganglion to lingual stimulation, and to examine the effects of specific ion transport antagonists on salt transduction mechanisms. Hierarchical cluster analysis of the responses from 73 single neurons to 3 salts (0.075 and 0.3 M NaCl, KCl, and NH(4) Cl), 0.5 M sucros...

Our previous studies demonstrated that acute infusion of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) produces an enhanced depressor response in NaCl-sensitive spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-S) fed a high (8%) NaCl diet compared with control SHR-S fed a normal (1%) NaCl diet and that dietary NaCl loading increases circulating ANF levels in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats but not in SHR-S. The current study te...

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) increases renin release from isolated perfused kidneys and may act as an autacoid regulator of renin secretion, but its effects on renin in vivo are unknown. In vivo, PTHrP causes hypercalcemia and anorexia, which may affect renin. We hypothesized that chronically elevated PTHrP would increase plasma renin activity (PRA) indirectly via its anorexic ef...

Daily consumption of garlic is known to lower the risk of hypertension and ischemic heart disease. In this study, we examined whether aged garlic extract (AGE) prevents hypertension and the progression of compensated left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy in Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rats. DS rats were randomly divided into three groups: those fed an 8% NaCl diet until 18 weeks of age (8% NaCl group)...

A diet high in NaCl can raise blood pressure in susceptible people and animals, probably by similar mechanisms. The possibly harmful effects of a high-NaCl diet are not unexpected because both prehistoric humans and mammals evolved in a low-NaCl environment. Evolutionary forces molded mammals to adapt well to a low sodium intake; modern high NaCl intakes go against this adaptation. A high-NaCl ...

We have previously demonstrated blunted reflex responses of lumbar sympathetic nerve activity during volume expansion in NaCl-sensitive spontaneously hypertensive rats maintained on basal (1% NaCl) diets compared with NaCl-resistant spontaneously hypertensive rats, Wistar-Kyoto rats, and Sprague-Dawley rats. The current study tested the hypothesis that chronic ingestion of a high (8%) NaCl diet...