The Journal of Nutrition Vol. 127 No. 4 April 1997, pp. 655-660
Copyright ©1997 by the American Society for Nutritional Sciences

Food Restriction Reduces Sympathetic Support of Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Manuscript received 21 May 1996. Initial reviews completed 1 August 1996. Revision accepted 12 December 1996.

Department of Nutrition, Food and Movement Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4075

We tested the hypothesis that food restriction would attenuate the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Furthermore, we hypothesized that food restriction would reduce the tonic sympathetic nervous system support of blood pressure in the SHR. Male SHR (Charles River, age 5 wk) were randomly assigned to ad libitum (ADLIB, n = 8) or food-restricted (FR, n = 9) groups. ADLIB rats were given free access to nonpurified diet and demineralized water. Food-restricted rats ate 60% of the amount of nonpurified diet consumed by rats in the ADLIB group. After 8 wk of treatment, ADLIB rats were heavier than FR rats (ADLIB = 318 ± 4 g; FR = 193 ± 5 g, P < 0.05). Blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were measured after chronic implantation of iliac arterial and jugular venous catheters. Food-restricted rats had lower mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) than ADLIB rats, measured in conscious, unrestrained state 4-6 h after catheterization (ADLIB = 162 ± 3 mmHg; FR = 142 ± 3 mmHg, P < 0.05) and measured on the day after surgery (ADLIB = 150 ± 6 mmHg; FR = 130 ± 3 mmHg, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in resting HR on either day. Food-restricted rats exhibited augmented cardiac baroreflex-mediated bradycardia (bolus phenylephrine, 0.5-4.0 µg/kg intravenously) as assessed by linear slope of the HR/MAP relationship (ADLIB = 0.73 beats/(min·mmHg); FR = 1.62 beats/(min·mmHg), P < 0.05). Sympathetic support of blood pressure quantified by the depressor response to ganglionic blockade (hexamethonium 30 mg/kg; atropine 0.1 mg/kg intravenously), was greater in the ADLIB group (ADLIB: 59 ± 8 mmHg; FR: 36 ± 2 mmHg, P < 0.05). The results support the hypotheses that chronic food restriction reduces the development of hypertension and sympathetic support of MAP in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. S. Landa, S. I. Garcia, M. L. Schuman, A. Burgueno, A. L. Alvarez, F. E. Saravia, C. Gemma, and C. J. Pirola Knocking down the diencephalic thyrotropin-releasing hormone precursor gene normalizes obesity-induced hypertension in the rat Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, May 1, 2007; 292(5): E1388 - E1394. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Astrand, M. Bohlooly-Y, S. Larsdotter, M. Mahlapuu, H. Andersen, J. Tornell, C. Ohlsson, M. Snaith, and D. G. A. Morgan Mice lacking melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 demonstrate increased heart rate associated with altered autonomic activity Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, October 1, 2004; 287(4): R749 - R758. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. I. Garcia, M. S. Landa, P. I. Porto, A. L. Alvarez, M. Schuman, S. Finkielman, and C. J. Pirola Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Decreases Leptin and Mediates the Leptin-Induced Pressor Effect Hypertension, February 1, 2002; 39(2): 491 - 495. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Swoap Altered leptin signaling is sufficient, but not required, for hypotension associated with caloric restriction Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, December 1, 2001; 281(6): H2473 - H2479. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. L. G. Correia, D. A. Morgan, W. I. Sivitz, A. L. Mark, and W. G. Haynes Leptin Acts in the Central Nervous System to Produce Dose-Dependent Changes in Arterial Pressure Hypertension, March 1, 2001; 37(3): 936 - 942. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. D. Williams, J. B. Chambers, O. L. May, R. P. Henderson, M. E. Rashotte, and J. M. Overton Concurrent reductions in blood pressure and metabolic rate during fasting in the unrestrained SHR Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, January 1, 2000; 278(1): R255 - R262. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Zicha and J. Kunes Ontogenetic Aspects of Hypertension Development: Analysis in the Rat Physiol Rev, October 1, 1999; 79(4): 1227 - 1282. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Eiam-Ong and S. Sabatini Food Restriction Beneficially Affects Renal Transport and Cortical Membrane Lipid Content in Rats J. Nutr., September 1, 1999; 129(9): 1682 - 1687. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. D. Williams, J. B. Chambers, R. P. Henderson, M. E. Rashotte, and J. M. Overton Cardiovascular responses to caloric restriction and thermoneutrality in C57BL/6J mice Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, May 1, 2002; 282(5): R1459 - R1467. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]