Increased sympathetic tone and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activation impact in metabolic parameters from hypertensive rats

•Hypertensive rats showed a reduction in adiposity when compared to their controls;•SHR presented the most evident lipodystrophy;•SHR exhibited significant alteration in endocrine function of adipose tissue. Increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) may play an important role in the development of hypertension and in adiposity disorders. We aimed to investigate the influence of increased sympathetic tone and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activation in metabolic parameters by evaluating the morphometry of isolated adipocytes from different fat pads and energy consumption. Serum levels of catecholamines, HPA hormones, T3 and adipokines were measured in 15-weeks-old Wistar (WIS), Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR) and WIS treated with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). L-NAME and SHR showed a reduced adiposity when compared to their controls, which may be related to higher concentrations of T3. However, SHR presented the most evident lipodystrophy, presenting significant changes in the morphometry from isolated adipocytes and the production of adipokines. Thus, our study suggests that endocrine changes in hypertension models may highlight possible therapeutic targets in the treatment of metabolic changes associated with hypertension.