Induction of Renal Hypertension in Rats and Dogs by Potassium or Choline Deficiency

¹ From the Department of Experimental Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas

The maintenance of rats and dogs on a choline- or potassium-free diet for periods of 1–4 weeks after weaning results in the development of hypertensive cardiovascular disease. The rapidity with which hypertension develops and its severity is determined by the length of the period during which they are maintained on such diets and may be accentuated by unilateral nephrectomy, the substitution of 1% sodium chloride for the animal's drinking water, the administration of alcohol (in conjunction with choline deficiency) or by a combination of these procedures.