Studies of Salt and Stress Sensitivity on Arterial Pressure in Renin-b Deficient Mice

Excessive sodium intake is known to increase the risk for hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Individuals who are more susceptible to the effects of high salt are at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases even independent of their blood pressure status. Local activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the brain, among other mechanisms, has been hypothesized to play a key role in contributing to salt balance. We have previously shown that deletion of the alternative renin isoform termed renin-b disinhibits the classical renin-a encoding preprorenin in the brain resulting in elevated brain RAS activity. Thus, we hypothesized that renin-b deficiency results in higher susceptibility to salt-induced elevation in blood pressure. Telemetry implanted Ren-b Null and wildtype littermate mice were first offered a low salt diet for a week and subsequently a high salt diet for another week. A high salt diet induced a mild blood pressure elevation in both Ren-b Null and wildtype mice, but mice lacking renin-b did not exhibit an exaggerated pressor response. When renin-b deficient mice were exposed to a high salt diet for a longer duration (4 weeks), was a trend for increased myocardial enlargement in Ren-b Null mice when compared with control mice. Multiple studies have also demonstrated the association of chronic and acute environmental stress with hypertension. Activation of the RAS in the rostral ventrolateral medulla and the hypothalamus is required for stress-induced hypertension. Thus, we next questioned whether the lack of renin-b would result in exacerbated response to an acute restraint-stress. Wildtype and Ren-b Null mice equally exhibited elevated blood pressure in response to restraint-stress, which was similar in mice fed either a low or high salt diet. These studies highlight a complex mechanism that masks/unmasks roles for renin-b in cardiovascular physiology.