Interaction between hypertension and cerebral hypoperfusion in the development of cognitive dysfunction and white matter pathology in rats

•Hypertensive rats developed earlier and more severe deficits in spatial memory after BCCAO than normotensive rats.•Subtle myelin degeneration and paranodal structural alteration were noted after BCCAO regardless of hypertension.•BBB disruption of the blood–brain barrier was predominantly observed in the white matter of SHRs after BCCAO.•Hypertension may significantly affect cognitive dysfunction in white matter ischemia by inducing BBB impairment.