REN and Hypertension: Transgenic (mRen2)27 rats, a monogenetic model of Ang II‐dependent hypertension in which the mouse Ren2 renin gene was transfected into the genome of the SD rat, have a phenotype of chronic hypertension with markedly impaired baroreflex control over heart rate (HR), increased body weight, and reduced insulin and leptin sensitivity by 16 weeks of age compared to their normotensive genetic controls (Bader et al. 1992; Kasper et al. 2005; Sloniger et al. 2005a,b).