Cyclic adenosine monophosphate and hypertension in rats.

Aortas from spontaneously hypertensive and stress hypertensive rats contained significantly lower intracellular concentrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphate than did their respective controls. Adenylate cyclase activity was normal but was less responsive to stimulation, while phosphodiesterase activity (especially the low Michaelis-Menten constant form) was significantly elevated. Human aortas contained two forms of phosphodiesterase that were similar to those in rat aortas.