Factors involved in the development of hypertension induced by a low-protein diet in rats with renal injury.

Background/aims: While a low-protein diet (LPD) has been reported to increase blood pressure, the mechanism for its increase has not yet been clarified. We investigated the factors involved in the development of hypertension induced by LPD in rats with post-cyclosporine (CsA) nephropathy, and determined the appropriate composition for LPD that is to be utilized for renal research.

Methods: The rats were divided into 4 groups, each group being fed either a normal-protein diet (NPD), LPD with a low sucrose content as the main component of carbohydrate, LPD with a high-sucrose content, or LPD with low sucrose plus 2% L-arginine (Arg) for 12 weeks, and the blood pressure, urinary nitric oxide (NO) metabolite (NOx) excretion, renal NO-generating capacity and renal Arg content were compared among these groups.