Endocrinology, Vol 114, 624-628, Copyright © 1984 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Sodium-potassium ATPase in deoxycorticosterone-salt hypertension: opposing effects of sodium load and mineralocorticoids

N Stern, FW Beck, N Vlachakis, P Eggena and JR Sowers

Previous studies of the sodium-potassium pump in the deoxycorticosterone (DOC)-salt (DS) model of hypertension yielded contrasting results, some investigators reporting increased and others finding decreased pump activity. To test the possibility that the net pump activity in the DS rats results from separate effects of sodium overload and mineralocorticoid activity, we compared the Na+-K+-ATPase pump in DS rats with that in other experimental models in which these potential determinants do not coincide. Renocortical and myocardial ATPase activities were measured in control rats; adrenalectomized- saline-repleted rats; adrenalectomized aldosterone- or dexamethasone- repleted rats; uninephrectomized, saline-drinking rats; and uninephrectomized, saline-drinking, DOC- and salt-treated rats. DOC- and salt-treated rats had higher (P less than 0.001) blood pressures and lower (P less than 0.05) serum potassium levels than control rats. Renocortical and myocardial ATPase activities were considerably (P less than 0.01) decreased in adrenalectomized, saline-repleted rats, but could be at least partially restituted by either aldosterone or dexamethasone therapy. Uninephrectomized, saline-drinking rats had reduced (P less than 0.01) renocortical and myocardial ATPase activities compared with control rats. In uninephrectomized, saline- drinking rats treated with DOC, renocortical and myocardial ATPase activities were not different from control values. The results of this study suggest that the Na+-K+-ATPase pump in DOC- and salt-treated rats is modulated by the opposing effects of sodium overload-associated suppression and DOC-mediated stimulation.