ALPHA TOCOPHEROL AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN PN/n MICE

Summary The tail cuff blood pressure of PN/n mice, previously studied for arteritis and glomerulitis, was found to be raised before histological changes appeared. The pressures of mice bred for two generations on a diet containing a low level of alpha tocopherol (E) fell to that of control CBA mice. Replacement of E in the diet, or by intraperitoneal injection, led to a rise of pressure. The pressures reached a mean of 150 mm/Hg after breeding the mice for a further three generations on a more complete diet with additional E. An inhibitory effect of E on prostaglandin production was postulated. E had no effect on the pressures of CBA/MAC mice.