This apparent lack of contribution of central RAS in this model contrasts the well-recognized influence of central AT1 receptor activity in other forms of hypertension such as DOCA-salt hypertension, salt induced hypertension in SHR and cold induced hypertension (Huang and Leenen, 1996; Park and Leenen, 2001; Sun et al., 2002), but is consistent with a lack of contribution reported in SHR on a normal salt diet (Kawano et al., 1994; Bunting and Widdop, 1995). The gene discussed is AGTR1; the disease is hypertensive disorder.