Sodium transport by leucocytes and erythrocytes in hypertensive subjects and their normotensive relatives.

Intracellular sodium content and ouabain-sensitive sodium efflux rate constant were measured in leucocytes and erythrocytes from subjects with untreated essential hypertension and also in normotensive subjects with and without a family history of hypertension. Leucocytes from hypertensives were again shown to have a higher intracellular sodium content and lower ouabain-sensitive sodium efflux rate constant than normotensive controls but there were no differences between those normotensive subjects with and those without a family history of hypertension. No differences in erythrocyte sodium content or efflux rate constant were seen between any of the three groups.