Nifedipine, its action on the cationic concentrations in heart, vessels, skeletal muscle and blood in tissues of normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)

1. 1. The cationic tissue distribution, obtained by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, was different in normotensive (Wistar) and spontaneously hypertensive male rats (SHR). 2. 2. In both groups, nifedipine (4.2 mg/100 g body wt, by gastric intubation, during 10 days) altered the cationic composition mainly in the aorta, atria and in SHR also in the vein. 3. 3. In normotensive Wistar rats (NWR), nifedipine provoked a higher concentration of divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+ and Zn2+) in the ascending part of the aorta and reduced the monovalent (Na+) concentration in the aorta, vein and skeletal muscle. 4. 4. In spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) the pathognomonic higher cationic concentrations in the aorta, right atrium and vein are significantly (P < .005) reduced after nifedipine treatment.