[Development of the membrane concept of the pathogenesis of primary arterial hypertension].

The membrane concept of primary hypertension involves an alteration of the cation-transport function and the structure of cells' plasmatic membrane. These alterations entail an increase in concentration of cytoplasmatic free calcium followed, in its turn, by an alteration of contractile properties of vascular smooth muscle cells and by a disorder in the mechanisms of neurotransmitter action. A pathogenic association was revealed between the "membrane defect" in primary hypertension and the disturbance in functions of cellular oncogenes (protooncogenes). The association was corroborated both indirectly and by the data on the DNA in the primary hypertension model in the SHR.