Effects of Reduced Aldosterone on Resting Blood Pressure in the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) Rat

Presenter Information

Angela Sanderson, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

28-4-2009 10:00 AM

End Date

28-4-2009 12:00 PM

Student's Major

Biological Sciences

Student's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Mentor's Name

Penny Knoblich

Mentor's Department

Biological Sciences

Description

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a well known cause of cardiovascular disease. One component of blood pressure regulation, the sympathetic nervous system (flight or fight system), raises blood pressure during activity or stress. This is believed to explain the association between the "type A personality" (high strung individuals) and hypertension. The second component, blood volume, is primarily regulated by aldosterone, produced in the outermost layer of the adrenal cortex. Aldosterone increases blood pressure by increasing the sodium and water retained by the kidneys, which increases the blood volume. Regulation of blood pressure is complex, but both sympathetic nervous system effects and blood volume are important components. The goal of this research is to determine what effects reduced aldosterone will have on resting blood pressure and blood pressure during activity of the WKY rat. WKY rats were subjected to an adrenal freezing surgery that reduced aldosterone levels. Sham rats, underwent a sham (control) surgery that involves identical incisions and sutures, but no adrenal freezing. Both the adrenal frozen and sham rats were implanted with a remote monitor which will take blood pressure and activity readings hourly, for 48 consecutive hours per week. The use of this device allows elimination of the stress associated with manually measuring blood pressure, and a more accurate determination of the effect of reduced aldosterone on blood pressure.