Lead, hypertension, and the renin-angiotensin system in rats

Journal Article · Sun Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1982 · J. Lab. Clin. Med.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5524321

Victery, W; Vander, A J; Shulak, J M; Schoeps, P; Julius, S

Rats were exposed continuously to Pb in utero and after birth by giving their mothers, during pregnancy and lactation, drinking water containing 0, 100, or 500 ppm Pb (as Pb acetate) and then continuing this regimen after weaning. Male rats receiving 100 ppm developed a significant elevation of systolic blood pressure (152 +/- 3.7 mm Hg vs. 135 +/- 5.6 for controls) at 3 1/2 months and remained hypertensive until sacrifice at 6 months; 500 ppm rats remained normotensive. Both 100 ppm and 500 ppm females remained normotensive. At 6 months plasma renin activity (PRA) was significantly reduced in the 100 ppm male group but was normal in the 500 ppm group. There was dose-dependent decreases in the All/PRA ratio and in renal renin. Pulmonary converting enzyme activity was not changed by Pb exposure. Blood (Pb) was 40 and 71 ..mu..g/dl, respectively, and kidney (Pb) was 4.8 and 22.9 ..mu..g/gm. Renal histology was normal in the 100 ppm group. We conclude that doses of Pb which produce blood (Pb) seen in many people are capable of including modest hypertension in male rats; higher doses fail to do so. The hypertension is associated with a reduction in PRA and All and therefore is unlikely to be due to hyperactivity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS).

• Research Organization: The Univ. of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
• OSTI ID: 5524321
• Journal Information: J. Lab. Clin. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Lab. Clin. Med.; (United States) Vol. 99:3; ISSN JLCMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANGIOTENSIN
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD PRESSURE
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CARDIOVASCULAR AGENTS
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
CHRONIC INTAKE
DISEASES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DRINKING WATER
DRUGS
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
GLOBULINS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLASES
HYPERTENSION
INTAKE
KIDNEYS
LEAD
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METALS
NONSPECIFIC PEPTIDASES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEPTIDE HYDROLASES
PREGNANCY
PROTEINS
RATS
RENIN
RODENTS
SYMPTOMS
VASCULAR DISEASES
VASOCONSTRICTORS
VERTEBRATES
WATER