Although their expression level in the PVN was similar between 4-week-old WKY and SHR, the mRNA levels of Agtr1a and Slc12a2 were markedly increased in the PVN when hypertension occurred in SHR, indicating that progressive upregulation of AT1A receptors and NKCC1 in the PVN is associated with hypertension development. Here, SLC12A2 is linked to hypertensive disorder.