FISH PROTEIN‐RICH DIET ATTENUATES HYPERTENSION INDUCED BY DIETARY Ng‐NITRO‐L‐ARGININE IN NORMOTENSIVE WISTAR‐KYOTO RATS

SUMMARY1. Dietary 0.023%NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine (L‐NNA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, induced hypertension in normotensive Wistar‐Kyoto rats (WKY). This hypertension was significantly attenuated in WKY given a fish protein‐rich diet.2. The supplement of 2% L‐arginine given in a standard diet or a diet containing 3% taurine for drinking did not significantly affect the development of hypertension induced by L‐NNA in WKY.3. WKY which received the standard diet mixed with 10% urea and 0.023% L‐NNA had significantly attenuated hypertension compared with WKY receiving the standard diet mixed with 10% kaolin and 0.023% L‐NNA.4. These results suggest that the attenuation of hypertension in L‐NNA‐treated WKY rats given a fish protein rich diet may be partly caused by urea, a metabolic end‐product of protein.