Effects of MaxEPA on salt-induced hypertension: relationship to [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine binding sites

We investigated the effects of dietary MaxEPA (a major source of eicosapentaenoic acid in fish oil) supplementation on blood pressure (BP) responses and heart rate (HR) of Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats fed low (0.4% NaCl) and high (8.0% NaCl) sodium diets. During a four week treatment period, BP remained normotensive in rats on low salt diet but was significantly elevated in those on high salt diet, causing 50% mortality. MaxEPA diminished the BP elevation and prevented the high salt-induced mortality. HR was not affected by either salt diet alone but was reduced in the presence of MaxEPA. At the end of the treatment period, the distribution of [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine ([3H]NBMPR) binding, a putative marker of adenosine transport and metabolism, was estimated in selected rat tissues in order to evaluate the role of the purinergic system in the BP lowering effect of MaxEPA. Maximal [3H]NBMPR binding capacity (Bmax) in the kidney and platelets were 39% and 82% lower, respectively, in rats on high salt diet than in those on low salt diet. MaxEPA significantly blunted the decrease in Bmax in the kidney but not in platelets and increased Bmax in heart (48%) of low salt group. There were no changes in dissociation constants (Kd). The results suggest that MaxEPA can attenuate salt-induced hypertension, reduce salt-induced mortality and protect the integrity of kidney NBMPR binding sites in salt-induced hypertension.