Cosegregation of the endothelin-3 locus with blood pressure and relative heart weight in inbred Dahl rats

Objective: To determine whether the endothelin-1 or endothelin-3 genes are genetically linked with blood pressure and relative heart weight in segregating rat populations, in the context of an elevated dietary sodium chloride intake. Methods: Endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 genotypes of rats in segregating populations, derived from crosses of Dahl salt-sensitive (SS/Jr) rats with contrasting inbred strains, including Lewis rats, spontaneously hypertensive rats and Dahl salt-resistant (SR/Jr) rats, were determined using restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Segregating populations were fed a high (8%)-sodium chloride diet. Linkage of genotype with blood pressure or relative heart weight was determined by analysis of variance