Chronic hypertension and vascular alterations following short-term high dietary salt intake in postweaning rats.

The chronic effects of short-term administration of a high salt diet to postweaning rats on blood pressure (BP) was studied. BP was significantly elevated following 4 weeks of treatment. After stopping the high salt diet, BP dropped to control levels but then progressively rose again to hypertensive levels. A significant increase in arterial medial thickness as well as an increase in contractile sensitivity and a decrease in relaxation responsiveness were observed in aortic smooth muscle. These data show that short-term administration of a high salt diet to normal postweaning rats results in a chronic elevation in BP accompanied by significant alterations in vascular structure and function.