Development of deoxycorticosterone-salt induced hypertension in rats without unilateral nephrectomy

Three weeks of deoxycorticosterone (DOC)-salt treatment in rats without surgical operation such as unilateral nephrectomy caused changes of systolic blood pressure development which can be grouped in three categories: (a) the hypertensive group with blood pressure levels consistently higher than 160 mmHg; (b) the normotensive group with blood pressure levels consistently lower than 140 mmHg; and (c) the labile hypertensive group with blood pressure levels varying between 140 and 160 mmHg at the end of DOC-salt treatment. Distribution of the population of rats in these three categories can be controlled via a maneuver of the DOC treatment. The procedure for the induction of DOC-salt hypertension in non-operated rats is simple, effective, reproducible and economical. In addition, unlike the conventional procedure employing unilateral nephrectomy, this procedure not only eliminates complications resulting from the surgical operation, but also provides the most appropriate procedure when large numbers of normotensive control rats as well as hypertensive rats are required.