Glucocorticoid receptors and dissociation constant (Kd) are decreased in mononuclear leukocytes of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP) as compared to normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY).

We were able to show that spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats (SHR-SP) have a lower number of glucocorticoid receptors (P-value is of borderline significance, 0.01 greater than P less than 0.05) with a highly significant lower Kd (P less than 0.0005), i.e higher affinity in their mononuclear leukocytes, compared to normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The plasma levels of corticosterone, aldosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone of the two strains do not differ.