Lead, hypertension, and the renin-angiotensin system in rats
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), Vol. 99:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BLOOD PRESSURE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
LEAD
RENIN
ANGIOTENSIN
BLOOD
CHRONIC INTAKE
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DRINKING WATER
HYPERTENSION
KIDNEYS
PREGNANCY
RATS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CARDIOVASCULAR AGENTS
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
DISEASES
DRUGS
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
GLOBULINS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLASES
INTAKE
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METALS
NONSPECIFIC PEPTIDASES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEPTIDE HYDROLASES
PROTEINS
RODENTS
SYMPTOMS
VASCULAR DISEASES
VASOCONSTRICTORS
VERTEBRATES
WATER
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)