Nifedipine corrects the blunted renal response to saline loading in hypertension-prone SBH rats.

The elimination of an acute oral saline load is markedly blunted in adult Sabra hypertension-prone (SBH) rats compared with hypertension-resistant Sabra normotensive (SBN) rats. Within 2 h, urinary output and the excretion of sodium and potassium are significantly reduced, while urine osmolality is markedly elevated in SBH rats. The long-term administration of nifedipine, 20-30 mg/kg body weight enhanced the diuretic and natriuretic response to saline loading in members of both strains. The effect was significantly more pronounced in SBH, especially in adult animals where the diuretic and natriuretic response averaged 150 and 130% of control, while in SBN the enhanced response was 50 and 20%, respectively. As a result of the disparate effect of nifedipine in the two strains, the blunted response of SBH was abolished. The mechanism of the preferential response to nifedipine of SBH rats remains to be determined.