The DOCA-Salt Model of Hypertension for Studies of Cerebrovascular Function, Stroke, and Brain Health.

The brain renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) regulates many physiological processes including fluid and electrolyte balance, vascular structure and function, blood pressure, cognition, and other aspects of brain function. Treatment with the mineralocorticoid deoxycorticosterone acetate and salt stimulates the local RAAS within the brain. In this chapter, we describe the surgical procedures used to induce activation of the brain RAAS with deoxycorticosterone acetate and salt. This technique can be used for studies of hypertension, cerebrovascular biology and dysfunction, and other diseases that impact brain health.