Genetic and Salt-Related Alterations in Monoamine Neurotransmitters in Dahl Salt-Sensitive and Salt-Resistant Rats

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Abstract
Monoamine and metabolite levels were determined in brain regions and in the kidney, heart and adrenals taken from Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) and salt-resistant (DR) rats on either normal (NS) or high (HS) (8.5% NaCl) salt diets. The HS diet significantly (p < 0.01) elevated blood pressure only in DS rats. DS-HS rats had a significantly (p < 0.001) greater increase in renal weight and a significantly (p < 0.001) greater reductions in renal norepinephrine (NE) content and concentration than the DR-HS rats. Cardiac NE content and concentration were also lower (p < 0.001) in DS rats when compared to DR rats. Adrenal catecholamines were also altered in DS rats. There were genetic differences in brain regional levels of NE, dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) between DR and DS rats. NE levels were significantly (p < 0.03) higher in DS compared to DR rats in the pons and hypothalamus. DA levels were significantly (p < 0.01) greater in the striatum of DS compared to DR rats as were 5-HT levels in the striatum and cortex. HS diets had no effect on brain monoamine or metabolite levels in either DS or DR rats except to elevate cortical 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels. The cardiovascular implications of these genetic and salt-related changes in peripheral and central nervous system monoamines were discussed.

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