BLOOD PRESSURE, SALT TASTE AND SODIUM EXCRETION IN RATS EXPOSED PRENATALLY TO HIGH SALT DIET

Blood pressure, sodium excretion and salt taste were examined in Sprague Dawley (SD) and Munich Wistar (MW) rats exposed prenatally to either a high salt (2.3% NaCl w/w) or control diet. There was no significant difference in blood pressure at 2, 6 or 12 months between high salt and control groups in either strain. Similarly there was no significant difference in sodium excretion following a saline load by gavage (150 mmol/l, 1.5% BW). Munich Wistar rats which received high salt diet prenatally exhibited a reduced saline preference when offered a choice between water and 150 mmol/l NaCl as drinking fluid. There was no significant difference in saline preference between Sprague Dawley rats which received the high salt or control diet. Prenatal exposure to high salt diet failed to alter the blood pressure or excretion of a salt load in either SD or MW rats. In MW rats but not SD high salt diet prenatally resulted in a reduced saline preference at 3 months of age.