Delayed onset and reduced severity of adrenal-compression hypertension in rats treated with digitoxin.

Abstract

1. Bilateral compression of adrenal glands combined with unilateral nephrectomy and followed by imposition of a high sodium chloride intake caused severe hypertension in all rats, accompanied by enlargement of the heart, kidneys and adrenal glands, atrophy of the thymus and severe nephrosclerosis. 2. Digitoxin treatment delayed the onset, reduced the incidence and ameliorated the magnitude of the hypertensive response in such rats; it also reduced the degree of cardiac hypertrophy, the severity of nephrosclerosis and completely prevented enlargement of the adrenals and kidneys or atrophy of the thymus.