Abstract

1. The level of mRNA expression of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) subunits was studied in a salt-dependent hypertensive rat strain (Sabra). These rats exhibit high vasopressin levels compared with their normotensive counterparts. We also investigated whether this expression is influenced by changes in the sodium intake/aldosterone axis or in the fluid intake/vasopressin axis. 2. A higher expression of beta- and gamma-subunit mRNA was found in salt-sensitive compared with salt-resistant rats on a normal salt diet. A high-sodium diet did not alter mRNA abundance in either substrain. In contrast, water supplementation in salt-sensitive rats fed the high-sodium diet induced a marked reduction in mRNA abundance of beta- and gamma-subunits. 3. The present study provides evidence that beta- and gamma-subunits of ENaC are differently expressed in the kidney of salt-sensitive and salt-resistant Sabra rats and that their abundance is regulated by vasopressin, not by sodium intake. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that increased vasopressin-dependent ENaC expression and activity may contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension in salt-sensitive Sabra rats.