Decreased activity of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in mesenteric arteries of Dahl salt-sensitive rats.
11 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD) activity in mesenteric arteries of 4-week- and 8-week-old Dahl rats was determined to evaluate the relationship between glucocorticoids and norepinephrine in hypertension, 11 beta-HSD activity (expressed as the percentage conversion of 3H-corticosterone (B) to 3H-11-dehydrocorticosterone (A)) significantly decreased in 8-week-old Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rats (11.4 +/- 1.4%) compared with Dahl salt-resistant (DR) rats (15.3 +/- 0.3%) (p < 0.05) when each group was fed a high-sodium chow (7%) for 4 weeks. There were no significant differences in 11 beta-HSD activity in the 4-week-old DS and DR rats. The enhanced response of mesenteric arteries to norepinephrine was observed only in 8-week-old DS rats. Our results suggest that a decreased 11 beta-HSD activity in the vascular walls contributes to the increased response of norepinephrine by local increment of glucocorticoids in DS hypertensive rats.