Development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats: role of milk electrolytes.

Abstract

1. Milk samples were collected from lactating spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) normotensive females at 8, 14 or 18 days postpartum. 2. Milk samples were later analysed for content of calcium (Ca++), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-) and total protein. 3. Milk samples from SHR females had significantly higher concentrations of Na+ (at 8 and 14 days) and Cl- and significantly lower concentrations of Ca++, K+ (at 8 and 14 days) and total protein compared to milk samples from WKY females. 4. Preweanling dietary content of several electrolytes implicated in the development of hypertension differed dramatically between SHR and WKY strains. This altered diet early in life may serve as an environmental trigger for progressive age-related increases in arterial pressure in SHR.