Metabolic alterations in discrete regions of the rat brain during development of spontaneous hypertension.

Hexokinase histochemistry was used to identify brain regions that undergo metabolic changes during the development of hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Photodensitometric measurements of reaction product were made in the commissural subdivision of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius, medial subfornical organ, supraoptic nucleus, magnocellular division of the parvocellular division of the paraventricular nucleus, anterior hypothalamic area, and posterior hypothalamus of prehypertensive SHR (4 weeks) and SHR with developing hypertension (8 weeks). These values were compared with those obtained from age-matched Sprague-Dawley and Wistar-Kyoto rats. At 4 weeks, significantly lower levels of hexokinase were observed in the commissural subdivision of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius and the magnocellular division of the paraventricular nucleus of SHR; a higher level was seen in the posterior hypothalamus. At 8 weeks, significantly higher levels of hexokinase were observed in the anterior hypothalamic area and the posterior hypothalamus. These results can be compared to those from adult SHR where lower levels of activity were found in the parvo- and magnocellular divisions of the paraventricular nucleus. Together these results suggest that, while the role of the magnocellular division of the paraventricular nucleus remains unclear, the commissural subdivision of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius and posterior hypothalamus may participate in the initial events leading to hypertension whereas the parvocellular division of the paraventricular nucleus does not.