Male and female Balb/C mice (Jackson Labs, Bar Harbor, ME, Catalog #000651) at 10 weeks of age were utilized for all studies. The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Augusta University approved all protocols. Mice were implanted with indwelling telemeters (carotid catheter) (DSI© Model #PA-C10, New Brighton, MN) under isoflurane anesthesia as previously described 17 (link), 18 (link). Following a 7-day recovery period baseline BP measurements were consciously recorded for 7 days while mice were on normal salt diet (NS) (0.2% NaCl, Teklad #2918, Envigo, United Kingdom). Male and female mice were then placed on a 4% NaCl high-salt diet (HS, Teklad #92034, Envigo) for 7-day BP recording. A second group of female mice repeated this protocol followed by an additional 7 days recording on HS with the added supplementation of the MR antagonist eplerenone (oral daily supplement, 200mg/kg/day). Uterine weights were compared from female mice at sacrifice to determine that estrous cycles were similar across all feeding periods.
A detailed description of the methods used is available in the online-only Data Supplement.