Changes in vascular ionic content and distribution across aortic coarctation in the dog

Eight dogs were subjected to 80-90 percent coarctation of thoracic aorta, which produced a mean blood pressure gradient of 40 mmHg; six normal dogs were used as controls. Proximal aorta was compared with distal aorta, and carotid and femoral arteries removed after coarctation were compared against the contralateral vessels removed before coarctation. After 4 wk of coarctation, proximal aorta contained more total and intracellular Na (derived from 24Na fluxes and space measurements), more Mg, Cl, hydrolyzable SO4 equals to, and H2O than distal aorta. Hydrolyzable SO4 equals to was also higher in proximal than in distal noncoarcted aorta. Carotid arteries removed after coarctation had higher total and "noninulin" Na, higher Ca, and similar hydrolyzable SO4equals to and total hexosamine than the contralateral normal vessels. Aortic coarctation had no effect on ionic composition of femoral arteries. The data suggest that an increase in intravascular pressure has direct effects on vascular ionic composition. Although ionic changes may vary in different vessels, increased intracellular Na seems to be the most consistent finding.