Low-Salt Diet and Disrupted Body Clock Together Increase Blood Pressure Through Angiotensin II in Mice

Administration of angiotensin II resulted in nondipping blood pressure and increased vascular hypertrophy in specific genetically modified mice.

• Circadian rhythms in blood pressure can be disrupted by factors such as hypertension and sleep apnea.
• Period isoform knockout mice showed exacerbated blood pressure issues and vascular changes compared to wild-type mice after angiotensin II treatment.
• A low-salt diet decreased blood pressure in wild-type mice but led to a loss of circadian rhythm in blood pressure for Period isoform knockout mice.
• The increase in resting blood pressure in knockout mice could be restored to a rhythmic pattern with angiotensin receptor blocker losartan.
• Chronic low-salt diet contributed to vascular hypertrophy in Period isoform knockout mice, along with increased renin levels and changes in angiotensin receptor expression.
• Circadian clock genes may influence how the body responds to sodium restriction, potentially affecting nighttime blood pressure regulation.

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