[A genetic correlational analysis of the behavioral and physiological characteristics of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)].

The SHR rats differ from normotensive WKY rats in a number of behavioral and physiological traits. In order to determine causal or accidental nature of relationships between these traits and hypertension, their correlations with arterial pressure level in the 2nd generation of SHR x WKY hybrids (F2), were studied. A positive correlation of body mass and characteristics of potassium appetite with a level of blood pressure corresponding to interstrain differences between SHR and WKY rats was found in F2 population showing genetic connection of these traits with hypertension. The negative correlation in F2 between open-field activity and arterial pressure was opposite to interstrain differences and environmental correlation (within parental strains and F1 hybrids). It seemed to be caused by prevalence of environmental correlation or of accidental fixation of this trait in SHR strain over the genetic connection found in F2 hybrids.