The Effect of High and Low Sodium Intake on Urinary Aquaporin-2 in Essential Hypertension

The Effect of High and Low Sodium Intake on Urinary Aquaporin-2 in Essential Hypertension, During Basal Conditions and After Hypertonic Saline Infusion.

The aim of the study is to test the following hypotheses:

• that the function and/or regulation of AQP2 and/or ENaC in the principal cells is abnormal in essential hypertension.
• if an abnormal function of the principal cells is present in essential hypertension, this will become more pronounced at high and low sodium intake.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Caucasian men and women
• Age 18-65 years
• Arterial hypertension
• Body mass index between 18.5 and 30 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

• Secondary hypertension
• Isolated systolic hypertension
• History or clinical signs of AMI, atrial fibrillation, disease of the heart valves, or chronic heart failure.
• Malignant disease
• Prior apoplexy
• alcohol or drug abuse
• Drug use except antihypertensives and oral contraceptives
• Abnormal biochemical screening of the blood regarding: red and white blood count, s-creatinine (> 200 micromol/L), b-hemoglobin, p-Sodium, p- potassium, p-albumine, p-bilirubin, p-alanine aminotransferase, p-alkaline phosphatase, p-cholesterol and b-glucose.
• Abnormal screening of the urine regarding: Blood, albumine and glucose.
• abnormal electrocardiogram
• Blood donation within one month of the first examination day
• Unwillingness to participate