Association between cardiovascular reactivity to stress and hypertension or behavior.

The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) exhibits increased cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) to environmental stress and behavioral hyperactivity relative to the Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY). This study sought to determine whether enhanced CVR to stress in the SHR is related to hypertension or to behavioral hyperactivity. By breeding SHR with WKY, followed by inbreeding, E. D. Hendley has developed two strains in which the hypertensive trait seems to be separated from the hyperactivity trait: the Wistar-Kyoto hypertensive (WK-HT) and the Wistar-Kyoto hyperactive (WK-HA) strains. Male SHR, WKY, WK-HT, and WK-HA rats were implanted with intravascular catheters and Doppler flow-velocity probes to record arterial pressure, heart rate (HR), and changes in regional vascular resistances. Five days after surgery, the rats were subjected to air-jet stress and pharmacological interventions. The hyperactive strains (SHR and WK-HA) exhibited enhanced pressor, renal, and mesenteric responses to stress, and higher HRs under all conditions, even after autonomic blockade. Both hypertension and hyperactivity were associated with reduced baroreceptor sensitivity. These data indicate that CVR to stress is related to behavioral traits.