Variations in arterioles in spontaneously hypertensive rats

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Abstract
In the present study, the diameters of afferent and efferent arterioles of kidneys from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were evaluated and compared with those from Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) using a vascular cast model. At 4 weeks of age, the blood pressure was slightly higher in SHR than in WKY (124±1 vs 116±7 mmHg, ns). The diameters of afferent arterioles in SHR were smaller than those in WKY (10.3±0.6 vs 12.3±0.7 µm,PPPP< 0.05). The net effect of these changes in arteriolar size helps to maintain normal intraglomerular pressure and to protect glomeruli from damage due to hypertension.