Abstract
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1. Intracellular [Cl-] (Cl-](i)) was measured with ion-selective microelectrodes in rat femoral arterial smooth muscle in normotensive controls and after the induction of deoxycorticosterone acetate/salt hypertension. 2. Linear regression of [Cl-](i) and time after the induction of hypertension showed good correlation (r = 0.96) for 5-6 weeks, as [Cl-](i) increased from 30 �� 1 mmol/l (mean �� SD, n = 16), to 49 �� 2 mmol/l (n = 9, P < 0.0001). 3. Arterial systolic blood pressure also increased linearly (r = 0.97) for 5-6 weeks as hypertension developed from 122 �� 1 mmHg (n = 20) to 187 �� 7 mmHg (n = 14): there was consequently a linear relationship between Cl-](i) and arterial systolic blood pressure (r = 0.96). 4. The increase in Cl-](i) was partly because Na+-K+-Cl- co-transport activity, estimated from the fall in Cl-](i) caused by bumetanide, was greater in hypertension (18 mmol/l) than in normotension (10 mmol/l). This finding, and the depolarization of the membrane potential in hypertension (-56 �� 3 mV compared with -64 �� 4 mV in normotension; P < 0.0001), confirms previous studies. 5. The increase in [Cl-](i) was also partly due to greater activity of an Na+- and HCO3--independent, acetazolamide-sensitive inward Cl- transport system; thus acetazolamide reduced 7 mmol/l in normotension and by 16mmol/l in hypertension. 6. In Cl--free media, the membrane potential in normotension (-59 �� 5mV) was not significantly different from that in hypertension (-60 �� 4 mV). 7. The role of [Cl-](i) in the depolarization of the membrane potential in hypertension is discussed.