ALTERED BLOOD PRESSURE, RENAL TUBULAR FUNCTION AND LEVELS OF CIRCULATING INHIBITORS OF Na‐K‐ATPase IN MATURE SHR EXPOSED TO LOW SALT DIET IN THE PERINATAL PERIOD

It has been shown previously that low salt diet, confined to the perinatal period only, reduces blood pressure (BP) and sodium retention in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) offspring at maturity when compared with those given high salt diet. 2. In this study it is shown that such high salt diets are associated with an increased level of circulating Na-K-ATPase inhibitor (CINK) activity. 3. Animals given perinatal high salt diet have a significantly greater tubular reabsorptive capacity when compared with those given low salt diet. 4. The finding of a high level of circulating Na-K-ATPase inhibitory material in the face of increased renal tubular capacity and blood pressure suggests that while this inhibitory material may play a role in the elevated blood pressure of animals given high salt diet, it cannot cause the elevated rate of fluid reabsorption.