Arterial disease of the iris predicts visceral arterial necrosis in rabbits with acute one-kidney, one clip hypertension: comparisons with acute one-kidney, one wrapped hypertension

Abstract

Tortuosity, dilations, aneurysms and satellite hemorrhages consistently develop in the circular arteries of the iris of rabbits with acute one-kidney, one clip (1K1C) malignant hypertension. These lesions are easily visualized, quantitated and monitored during life. Graded iridoarteriopathy correlates directly with visceral arterial necrosis (r15 = 0.843; P less than 0.001), final indirect blood pressure (r15 = 0.591; P less than 0.02) and cardiac hypertrophy (r15 = 0.565; P less than 0.02). Arterial necrosis in the irises and other viscera in acute 1K1C hypertension in rabbits is qualitatively similar to that occurring in rabbits with acute one-kidney, one wrapped (1K1W) hypertension with regard to both the histological features and organ distribution. However, over three times as many arterial lesions occur in rabbits with acute 1K1W hypertension as occur in those with acute 1K1C hypertension (P less than 0.001). Since blood pressure elevation does not correlate with graded iridoarteriopathy or with visceral arterial necrosis in 1K1W rabbits, factors other than blood pressure elevation appear to be especially important in the pathogenesis of arterial necrosis in the 1K1W model. On the other hand, the present study indicates that high grade iridoarteriopathy appears to be indicative of a high risk of cerebral hemorrhage in 1K1C rabbits, as earlier studies have shown for 1K1W rabbits.