CORTICOTROPIN EFFECTS ON BLOOD-PRESSURE AND FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE HOMEOSTASIS IN 5 STRAINS OF RATS

Abstract

The hemodynamic and metabolic effects of 11 days of sham (saline) and corticotropin injection were examined in five different strains of rats: Sprague-Dawley, spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), Brattleboro, and Long Evans. Corticotropin significantly increased systolic blood pressure (SBP) compared with sham injection in all strains: final SBP in Sprague-Dawley was 108 +/- 5 mm Hg corticotropin, 94 +/- 4 mm Hg sham; SHR 146 +/- 6 mm Hg corticotropin, 141 +/- 3 mm Hg sham; WKY 117 +/- 3 mm Hg corticotropin, 103 +/- 3 mm Hg sham; Brattleboro 108 +/- 5 mm Hg corticotropin, 93 +/- 2 mm Hg sham; and Long Evans 103 +/- 5 mm Hg corticotropin, 90 +/- 4 mm Hg sham (P less than .001..