Immunoglobulin and renal abnormalities in Dahl genetically hypertensive rat.

The Dahl salt-sensitive rat (DS) is a model of genetically determined arterial hypertension exacerbated by dietary salt. We report two additional abnormalities of DS rats, which are both genetically determined and enhanced by salt: 1) immunoglobulin disorders and 2) renal dysfunctions. These abnormalities precede and are not the result of the arterial hypertension. In young, prehypertensive DS rats the plasma and tissue concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig) G, but not of IgM or IgA, are decreased compared with those of the salt-resistant strain (DR). A high-salt diet (8.0% NaCl) decreases the plasma and tissue IgG levels of DS but not of DR rats. Reduction of IgG in the DS strain results from both decreased synthesis and increased urinary excretion. Renal dysfunction in young, prehypertensive DS animals is manifested by increased excretion of high molecular weight proteins, including albumin, IgG, IgA, and IgM. The high-salt diet increases the urinary excretion of these proteins within 1-2 days, and the effect is much greater in DS compared with DR rats. The urinary excretion of IgG is selectively increased relative to immunoglobulin light chains, IgA and IgM in DS compared with DR animals. The present studies provide new markers characteristic of the DS phenotype and pose the issue of possible genetic or functional interrelationships among the salt-sensitive hypertension, immunoglobulin disorders, and renal dysfunctions.

Effect of dietary fiber in insulin-dependent diabetics: insulin requirements and serum lipids.

Four young adult (18 to 26 years old), nonobese human subjects (two men and two women) with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus volunteered to consume a series of three diets: baseline (normal daily intake), wheat bran (normal daily intake + 78 gm wheat bran per day), and cellulose (normal daily intake + 30 gm cellulose per day). Wheat bran and cellulose diets both contained 60 gm dietary fiber, with 50% of the dietary fiber from wheat bran or cellulose, respectively. Each patient served as his or her own control. Randomized diets were of 6 weeks' duration, separated by a 4-week "recovery" period. At the conclusion of each diet, subjects were hospitalized and underwent 12 hours of computer-controlled, insulin-glucose infusions. Significant decreases were seen in fasting cholesterol (p less than .05), but the decreases seemed to result largely from the significant reductions in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. A large reduction in triglycerides was noted with cellulose feeding but not with wheat bran. The mean daily insulin dose decreased (p less than .05) in response to fiber addition (8% and 10% decrease for wheat bran and cellulose feeding, respectively). Mean biostator insulin requirements decreased 11% with wheat bran (p less than .05) but not with cellulose. During biostator monitoring, subjects experienced delayed postprandial blood glucose and insulin-infusion rate peaks with both wheat bran and cellulose feeding. The wheat bran diet reduced peak blood glucose concentration and peak insulin infusion rate in comparison with baseline and cellulose diets. The data suggest that high levels of cellulose or wheat bran are of marginal benefit to insulin-dependent diabetic subjects.