Effect of increased dietary calcium on the development of reduced renal mass saline hypertension in rats.

A diet fortified with calcium carbonate has been reported to reduce blood pressure in low-renin and salt-sensitive hypertensive patients. We have therefore examined the effect of increased dietary calcium on the development of reduced renal mass-saline hypertension in rats, a classical, low-renin, volume, and sodium-dependent model of hypertension. Rats with 70-75% reduction in renal mass were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental rats were fed a sodium-free diet supplemented with calcium carbonate (2.0% calcium) and drank 1% saline for 5 weeks. Control rats consumed the salt-free diet and drank 1% saline for the same period. In control rats, as previously observed, blood pressure progressive increased from a control value of 120.0 +/- 1.2 to 174.2 +/- 1.2 mm Hg by the fifth week. In contrast, in the calcium-supplemented rats the development of hypertension was significantly attenuated; the blood pressure only increased from 117.0 +/- 1.2 to 134.0 +/- 3.8 mm Hg by the fifth week. This was associated with a 30% decrease in saline intake by the fifth week, with proportionate decreases in urine volume and sodium excretion but not potassium excretion. Urinary magnesium excretion increased. No such changes were seen in control rats. At the end of the treatment period, plasma levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, creatinine, BUN, and protein were not different, but plasma chloride and magnesium were lower in experimental rats; vascular smooth muscle cell membrane potentials were also not different. These data show that dietary calcium carbonate can attenuate the development of reduced renal mass-saline hypertension in the rat, possibly in part by altering sodium and water intake.