Development of high blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats is delayed by treatment with cyclosporin at an early age.

In spontaneously hypertensive rats the effect of the T-cell inhibitor cyclosporin was studied at different ages. If treatment was started at the age of 2 weeks the development of hypertension was delayed, but the ultimate level of blood pressure was not affected. These results indicate the involvement of immune mechanisms in the early development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats.