Hypoxic attenuation of brain stem serotonin does not influence sodium-induced hypertension.

Sodium (Na+)-dependent hypertension was studied in hypoxia in an effort to determine the basis for hypoxia-mediated attenuation of hypertension. Hypoxia attenuated spontaneous hypertension while Na+ increased blood pressure in SHR. A lack of interaction between the effects of hypoxia and Na+ indicated additivity of effects. As a result, hypoxia-exposed, Na(+)-supplemented SHR had similar blood pressure as did normoxic, nonsupplemented SHR although both groups had lower blood pressure than normoxic, Na(+)-supplemented SHR. Hypoxia decreased serotonin turnover (5-HIAA/5-HT) in the brain stem of SHR while supplemental Na+ had no influence on this measurement. Hypoxic exposure in DOCA-treated rats failed to prevent the development of hypertension although hypoxia decreased 5-HIAA/5-HT in the brain stem of hypoxic rats, irrespective of DOCA treatment. The finding in SHR that Na+ counteracts the protection of hypoxia could be argued to support a similar mechanism of action for hypoxia and sodium. However, the results with DOCA treatment clearly refute such an interpretation. Our findings indicate that the pressor influence of Na+ does not occur through the modulation of brain stem 5-HIAA/5-HT.