We examined if changes in blood pressure and proteinuria during chronic salt intake exhibit sex disparities in age‐matched male (♂; N=10) and female (♀; N=10) Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats subjected to either normal (0.7% NaCl) or high salt (8% NaCl) diets for 2‐weeks. Metabolic studies, systolic blood pressures (SBP) measured by tail‐cuff method and proteinuria in 24‐h urine samples, were performed. Baseline SBP was not different between genders (♂:119.1±3 vs. ♀:119.0±4 mmHg) or after 2‐weeks on HS diet (♂:129.0±5 vs. ♀:125.6±6 mmHg). HS intake induced proteinuria in both sexes; however it was greater in male than in female rats [Day ‐1(♂:5±1 vs. ♀:3±1); Day 9 (♂:36±3 vs. ♀:17±2 mg/day); p<0.01]. By day 13, body weights were higher in ♂ than ♀ rats; however there was no difference with salt load [(male NS: 330±8 versus male HS: 324±7 g); ♀ NS: 217±12 vs. ♀ HS: 226±4 g)]. There were no sex dependent differences in food intake after it factored by body weight (♂ NS: 11±1 g/kg BW; ♂ HS: 12±1 g/kg BW; female NS: 11±2 g/kg BW; female HS: 13±1 g/kg BW; p=no significant). SBP under HS intake did not exhibit sexual dimorphism; however the augmented proteinuria in male rats may reflect a greater predisposition to develop renal injury with high salt consumption than female rats.Grants from the APS (2009 Frontiers in Physiology Research Host Awardees Program); NIH (P20‐RR‐017659; Tulane‐BIRCWH K12HD043451 award).

We have found that urinary angiotensinogen (AGT) excretion (uAGT) differs between male(♂)and female(♀) Sprague Dawley (SD) rats on a normal salt diet (♂: 60±26 vs ♀: 4.5 ±0.2ng/day, p<0.05). In this study, we examined if the effects of a high salt (HS) diet on uAGT exhibits sexual dimorphism during Angiotensin (ANG) II dependent hypertension. Four groups of age‐matched (8 weeks) male (n= 20) and female (n=17) SD rats were studied: 1) high salt diet (HS; 8%NaCl); 2) ANG II (80ng/min, sc; for 14 days); 3) ANG II + HS; 4) ANG II + HS + Candesartan. (CAND, 25 mg/L in drinking water). uAGT levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay. HS diet alone did not raise uAGT levels (♂: 107±23 vs. ♀: 5±2ng/day) from baseline; however, AGT increased significantly during ANG II infusion (♂: 1107±1061 vs ♀: 206±74ng/day, p<0.01) and was augmented even further in ANG II + HS (♂: 4363±1673 vs. ♀: 8022±1300ng/day, p=ns). Candesartan ameliorated this effect with a better response in female than in male rats.(♂: 240±28 vs. ♀: 10±4 ng/day, p< 0.01). The results demonstrate a sexual dimorphism in the uAGT excretion rate during baseline conditions and HS diet characterized by higher levels in the males. The augmentation of uAGT with HS + ANG II is ameliorated more effectively by ARB treatment in female ANG II hypertensive rats than in males.NIH (P20 RR 017659), Tulane‐BIRCWH (K12HD043451)