Sodium reabsorption in the isolated perfused kidney of normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Kidneys of 3-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) of the Münster strain and age- and weight-matched normotensive rats (Wistar-Kyoto; WKY) were isolated and perfused at a constant pressure of 100 mmHg with a modified, albumin-free Krebs-Henseleit solution. Fractional Na+ reabsorption, which is independent of the glomerular filtration rate under these conditions, was significantly elevated in SHR kidneys compared with WKY kidneys during 90 min of perfusion (P less than 0.01). Renal perfusion flow rates did not differ between SHR and WKY. These data support the concept of an intrinsic renal abnormality in Na+ excretion that may contribute to the maintenance of hypertension in SHR.