Effects of Hypertension Induced by Norepinephrine and Sodium Chloride upon the Arteries and Various Organs of Rats

ABSTRACT

Histopathological effects due to elevation of blood pressure induced by norepinephrine and sodium chloride, and due to high cholesterol feeding were studied upon the arteries and various organs of rats for the evaluation of relationship between arteriosclerosis and hypertension. Blood pressure was generally elevated in all groups, but rose significantly, particularly in the groups receiving sodium chloride. This was especially abrupt at the end of 3 months. No particular gross nor histopathologic changes were found in the aorta, but variable alterations in the coronary and renal arteries including hypertrophic and proliferative changes were characteristically identified. Variable interesting changes of myocardium, kidneys and adrenal glands were also observed. The hypertrophic changes were especially due to hyalinosis in the vascular wall, and the proliferative changes in several cases were similiar to that noted in malignant hypertension. Induction of hypertension by norepinephrine and sodium chloride caused arterial changes such as hypertrophic changes, mainly hyalinosis, and proliferative and necrotizing changes especially in the renal and coronary arteries of rats.