RETARDED DEVELOPMENT OF HYPERTENSION IN STROKE‐PRONE SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS FOLLOWING CHRONIC ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

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Abstract
SUMMARY: 1. The influence of chronic alcohol consumption on blood pressure was examined in normotensive Wistar/Kyoto rats (WKY) and in stroke‐prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR‐SP).2. Ethanol, administered in drinking water from 5 weeks of age to produce moderate blood alcohol levels, substantially retarded the development of hypertension in SHR‐SP and caused a mild reduction of blood pressure in WKY.3. Alcohol withdrawal caused an acute rise in blood pressure in both strains, followed by a reduction to the subnormal levels previously induced by alcohol treatment.4. This sustained antihypertensive effect of alcohol was not attributable to reductions of body weight or fluid intake.