INTRACELLULAR pH AND SODIUM‐PROTON EXCHANGE ACTIVITY OF LYMPHOCYTES IN STROKE‐PRONE SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Abstract
SUMMARY: 1. At the age of 20 weeks, intracellular pH (pHi) of circulating lymphocytes suspended in HCO3‐free NaCl media was not significantly different between stroke‐prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and normotensive Wistar‐Kyoto rats (WKY).2. The initial recovery rate of pHi in lymphocytes tended to be greater in SHRSP than in WKY after the addition of 60 mmol/L or 120 mmol/L of NaCl, but there was no statistically significant difference.3. The H+ equivalent efflux rate, which was a true reflection of Na+‐H+ activity, was significantly greater in SHRSP than in WKY (P0.05). An increased Na+‐H+ exchange activity may play a partial role in the pathogenesis of hypertension.