Cerebral aqueduct block attenuates cardio-renal injuries in post-DOCA-NaCl-hypertensive Dahl R rats.

The systemic and/or local effects of the hydrocephalic brain were investigated in DOCA-NaCl-hypertensive Dahl R rats induced by 250 mg kg(-1) DOCA in silicone and 1% saline water. After a 1-week recovery with 0.3% NaCl chow and tap water, one group had the aqueduct of Sylvius blocked with silicone and epoxy materials with a control sham group matching mean blood pressure (BP) and body weight.

Interview with Louis Tobian, MD. Interview by Marvin Moser.

Dr. Tobian has been involved in hypertension research and treatment for more than 50 years. His work on the sodium and water content in blood vessel walls and the protective effects of potassium has been widely accepted and incorporated into everyday practice decisions.

Dietary sodium chloride and potassium have effects on the pathophysiology of hypertension in humans and animals.

A diet high in NaCl can raise blood pressure in susceptible people and animals, probably by similar mechanisms. The possibly harmful effects of a high-NaCl diet are not unexpected because both prehistoric humans and mammals evolved in a low-NaCl environment. Evolutionary forces molded mammals to adapt well to a low sodium intake; modern high NaCl intakes go against this adaptation.