Like humans, some rats are just born with high blood pressure. One strain of rat, called "spontaneously hypertensive rat" or SHR for short, has very high blood pressure.
Data were
obtained during the night, their active period.
SHR Rat
Average systolic pressure =
203 mmHg
Average diastolic pressure =
141 mmHg
Average mean pressure =
166 mmHg
Heart rate = 390 beats per minute
Normal
Rat
Average systolic pressure =
121 mmHg
Average diastolic pressure =
84 mmHg
Average mean pressure =
103 mmHg
Heart rate = 380 beats per minute
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2002 Williams College