Reversal of one-kidney, one-clip hypertension in rats. Effects on myocardial Na+, K(+)-ATPase, arterial Na(+)-K+ pump, arterial membrane potential, and plasma Na(+)-K+ pump inhibitory activity.

We have previously reported that myocardial microsomal Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity, arterial wall ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake, and arterial smooth muscle cell membrane potentials are decreased and plasma Na(+)-K+ pump inhibitory activity is increased in rats during the fifth week of one-kidney, one-clip hypertension. We here report measurements of these four parameters and blood pressure following unclipping. A new series of rats with one-kidney, one-clip hypertension was prepared. Each animal was paired with a one-kidney, sham-clipped (nonconstricting clip) control rat. After 5 weeks, the clips were removed. In the hypertensive animals arterial pressure promptly (within 3 h) returned to normal and remained at the level for 7 observation days. On the third day following unclipping, all four parameters were not significantly different from those in the paired control animals. On the seventh day following unclipping, three of the four parameters were not significantly different from those in the paired control animals and arterial ouabain sensitive 86Rb uptake was slightly increased relative to the value in the control animals. These studies invite further inquiry into the possible role of plasma Na(+)-K+ pump inhibitory activity in the genesis and maintenance of the hypertension in this model.