Na+-H+ exchange and other ion-transport systems in erythrocytes of essential hypertensives and spontaneously hypertensive rats: a comparative analysis

The activity of ion-transport systems and Ca-induced erythrocyte haemolysis were compared between patients with essential hypertension and two strains of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Previous data on the increased rate of Na-Li countertransport in erythrocytes of essential hypertensives were confirmed in this study. However, identification of Na-Li countertransport in rat erythrocytes remained a complicated problem because of the high rate of sodium-independent efflux of Li. The rate of Na-H exchange increased by 50-80% both in spontaneously hypertensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (SHR) and in patients with essential hypertension. No difference between Milan hypertensive strain rats (MHS) and Milan normotensive strain rats (MNS) was found.The rate of Na ,K cotransport increased in SHR and MHS erythrocytes compared with rats of the control strains [normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and MNS; 30-50 and 90-110%, respectively]. No difference in this parameter was found between patients with essential hypertension and healthy subjects. Erythrocytes of patients with essential hypertension and of SHR were characterized by a higher sensitivity of their K channels to the increased concentration of intracellular Ca. This parameter did not change in MHS erythrocytes. Ca-induced haemolysis increased four- to fivefold in MHS erythrocytes compared with MNS and did not change in erythrocytes of SHR and patients with essential hypertension.The conclusion from these data is that the SHR strain is a more adequate model of human essential hypertension than the MHS.