The effect of chronic sodium loading and sodium restriction on plasma and renal concentrations of prostaglandin A in normal Wistar and spontaneously hypertensive Aoki rats.

Lee (1972) has suggested that prostaglandins A and E (PGA and PGE) may play a role in the control of sodium homeostasis and the regulation of blood pressure. Infusions of PGA or PGE into the renal artery have been shown to result in an increase in sodium, potassium and chloride excretion, glomerular filtration rate, total renal blood flow, and cortical blood flow. Further, intravenous administration of PGA to normal and hypertensive humans resulted in lowered blood pressure (Lee, 1972). The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of chronic sodium loading and sodium restriction on plasma and renal tissue levels of PGA in the normal Wistar and spontaneously hypertensive Aoki rat, and to determine the effect of hypertension on these prostaglandin levels, by using a recently developed radioimmunoassay.