Analysis of metabolites in plasma reveals distinct metabolic features between Dahl salt-sensitive rats and consomic SS.13BN rats

•Metabolomics uncovers separation of metabolic profiles between SS and SS.13BN rats.•Elevated levels of some organic acids indicate perturbation of TCA cycle in SS rats.•Decreased TCA cycle enzyme activities in heart, liver and muscles confirm disorder.•This work supports a role of abnormal metabolism in salt-sensitive hypertension. Salt-sensitive hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disorders. Our previous proteomic study revealed substantial differences in several proteins between Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats and salt-insensitive consomic SS.13BN rats. Subsequent experiments indicated a role of fumarase insufficiency in the development of hypertension in SS rats. In the present study, a global metabolic profiling study was performed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in plasma of SS rats (n=9) and SS.13BN rats (n=8) on 0.4% NaCl diet, designed to gain further insights into the relationship between alterations in cellular intermediary metabolism and predisposition to hypertension. Principal component analysis of the data sets revealed a clear clustering and separation of metabolic profiles between SS rats and SS.13BN rats. 23 differential metabolites were identified (P