Effects of ethanol on blood pressure of normal and hypertensive rats.

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Abstract
Groups of spontaneously hypertensive Okamoto (SHR) rats and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats (5 or 6/subgroup) were given either ethanol solution or water as the only fluid for 12 wk, and their blood pressure was measured by the tail-cuff method every 6-8 days. The rats were given a 5% ethanol solution for the first 20 days, 6, 7 and 8% solutions for 2, 3 and 2 days, and a 10% solution for the rest of the period. The mean body weight of all groups of animals increased gradually during the expermental period and so did the blood pressure. The mean blood pressure of SHR controls increased from 140-201 mmHg, and of ethanol-treated SHR rats from 141-201 mmHg. In WKY controls blood pressure rose from 109-135 mmHg and in ethanol-treated animals from 108-134 mmHg. Prolonged intake of moderate doses of ethanol does not affect blood pressure and development of hypertension in rats.