Cerebral small vessel endothelial structural changes predate hypertension in stroke‐prone spontaneously hypertensive rats: a blinded, controlled immunohistochemical study of 5‐ to 21‐week‐old rats

Abstract

Endothelial tight junction alterations of SHRSP rats from the earliest ages point towards increased susceptibility to blood-brain barrier dysfunction and stroke, which is exacerbated by salt loading. Salt loading may also damage the neurovascular unit in WKY controls.