Event Title

Effects of Surgically Induced Low Aldosterone Levels on Growth and Cardiovascular Development in WKY Rats

Presenter Information

Lauren Haverstock, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU 253/4/5

Start Date

24-4-2007 10:30 AM

End Date

24-4-2007 12:30 PM

Student's Major

Biological Sciences

Student's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Mentor's Name

Penny Knoblich

Mentor's Department

Biological Sciences

Mentor's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Description

This research investigated the role of the hormone aidosterone on the growth, heart rate and blood pressures of normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Aidosterone is secreted by the outermost layer of the adrenal cortex, and acts on the kidney to increase sodium retention. When more sodium is retained, the kidneys retain more water and this increases blood volume and blood pressure. Twenty male and twenty female WKY rats were subjected to either the experimental or sham procedure. In the experimental procedure, the outer adrenal cortex of one adrenal gland was frozen, while the other adrenal gland was removed. The sham procedure used identical surgical approaches, but the adrenal glands were untouched. After a ten day recovery period, data collections were completed every other week. The weights, heart rates and systolic blood pressures were recorded for each rat, until 21 weeks of age.