[Characteristics of the structural-functional status of erythrocyte membranes in 3 strains of rats with spontaneous genetic hypertension].

Erythrocyte membrane 22Na and 45Ca transport, osmotic stability and antigenic composition were investigated in 3 strains of rats with spontaneous hereditary hypertension (SHR, SHR SP, MHS), as well as normotensive controls for SHR and SHR SP (WKY) and for MHS (MHS). All strains of spontaneously hypertensive rats showed increased passive membrane permeability for sodium, that was due to increased operation rate of the Na+, K+-cotransport system. Metabolizing sodium is increased in the erythrocytes of Japanese rats (SHR and SHR SP), and decreased in Milan rats (MHS), as compared to normotensive controls. After four hours of incubation with orthovanadate, erythrocyte 45Ca levels were 2-3 times as high in SHR and SHR SP as they were in WKY. In the presence of valinomycin, erythrocyte resistance to hypoosmotic hemolysis was essentially higher in SHR and SHR SP than it was in WKY. These differences are related to a changed rate of anion transport through the band 3 protein. There were no differences in this respect between MHS and MNS. An antigen with a molecular weight of 37-39 kD was detected in erythrocyte membranes of WKY and could not be detected in erythrocytes of other rat groups, including the MNS. It is suggested that different molecular origins of membrane disorders may be an immediate cause of different mechanisms of arterial hypertension in Japanese and Milan animals.