Salt Sensitivity of Volume and Blood Pressure in a Mouse with Globally Reduced ENaC Γ-Subunit Expression

A mouse with globally suppressed expression of the epithelial Na+ channel γ-subunit showed enhanced sensitivity to dietary salt, including a transient increase in total body fluid, reduced blood pressure, and reduced diurnal blood pressure variation when given a dietary NaCl challenge. These results point to a role for the epithelial Na+ channel in regulating body fluid and blood pressure beyond classical volume-mediated mechanisms.