Aldosterone synthesis in the brain contributes to Dahl salt‐sensitive rat hypertension

The enzymes required for aldosterone synthesis from cholesterol are expressed in rat and human brains. The hypertension of Dahl salt‐sensitive (SS) rats is mitigated by the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of antagonists of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and downstream effectors of mineralocorticoid action, as well as ablations of brain areas that also abrogate mineralocorticoid–salt excess hypertension in normotensive rats. We used real time RT‐PCR to measure mRNA of aldosterone synthase and 11β‐hydroxylase, the requisite enzymes for the last step in the synthesis of aldosterone and corticosterone, respectively, MR and the determinants of MR ligand specificity, 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase types 1 and 2 (11β‐HSD1&2) and hexose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PDH). A combination of extraction and ELISA was used to measure aldosterone concentrations in tissue and urine of SS and Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. Aldosterone synthase mRNA expression was higher in the brains and lower in the adrenal glands of SS compared with SD rats. The amounts of mRNA for MR, 11β‐hydroxylase, 11β‐HSD1&2 and H6PD were similar. Aldosterone concentrations were greater in brains of SS than SD rats, yet, in keeping with the literature, the circulating and total aldosterone production of aldosterone in SS rats were not. The selective inhibitor of aldosterone synthase, FAD286, was infused i.c.v. or subcutaneously in a cross‐over blood pressure study in hypertensive SS rats further challenged by a high‐salt diet. The i.c.v. infusion of FAD286, at a dose that had no effect systemically, significantly and reversibly lowered blood pressure in SS rats. Aldosterone synthesis in brains of SS rats is greater than in SD rats and is important in the genesis of their salt‐sensitive hypertension.