The small intestine, salt intake and arterial hypertension.

The possibility that the small intestine is of importance for the development of arterial hypertension is discussed in relation to the presence of an intestinal sodium sensor and an intestinal natriuretic factor. We propose that an intestinal sodium sensor upon activation releases a factor that evokes renal excretion of sodium. Based on observations made in the Dahl strain of hypertensive rats it is suggested that an attenuation of this mechanism may contribute to the development of arterial hypertension.