Abstract

In the present study we used radiotelemetry technology to investigate: 1) the time course for development of hypertension in 2-kidney, 1-clip (2K1C) rats and 2) the effect of chronic caffeine consumption on blood pressure in 2K1C rats. Rats received water or caffeine (0.1%) in drinking water and were instrumented with radiotelemetry devices to permit continuous monitoring of blood pressure. A clip was placed on the left renal artery of rats in both the water (WATER/CLIP) and caffeine (CAFFEINE/CLIP) groups. The clip was applied briefly to, then removed from, the renal artery of caffeine- and water-treated rats randomized to the sham-operated (SHAM) group. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) increased by approximately 35 mm Hg within 2 hr of clipping. MABP in the WATER/CLIP and CAFFEINE/CLIP groups differed significantly from the SHAM group, but not from each other, for the first 10 days after clipping. Thereafter, MABP was greater in the CAFFEINE/CLIP rats as compared to WATER/CLIP rats. At 4.5 weeks after clipping, MABP values differed significantly in the CAFFEINE/CLIP, WATER/CLIP and SHAM rats (140 +/- 4, 122 +/- 4 and 103 +/- 2 mm Hg, respectively). Involvement of the renin-angiotensin system was assessed by treatment with the AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan, and the converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril. Results from this study indicate: 1) hypertension develops rapidly after clipping in rats monitored with telemetry; 2) the renin-angiotensin system is involved in maintaining hypertension in 2K1C rats even beyond 4 weeks after clipping; and 3) caffeine augments the increase of blood pressure in 2K1C rats, apparently through the involvement of the renin-angiotensin system.