Aldosterone and Stress-Dependent Arterial Hypertension

Secretory activity of the adrenal cortex and hormonal reaction to emotional stress were examined in normotensive WAG and hypertensive ISIAH rats. Under nembutal narcosis (surgical stage), secretion of corticosteroid hormones and hormonal reaction to acute stress in hypertensive rats were enhanced. In these rats, the stress-induced elevation of aldosterone secretion was most pronounced, which indicates an important contribution of this hormone to the pathogenesis of stress-dependent arterial hypertension.