Significantly, in 16-month-old male rats, NCC antagonism for 14 days with an s.c. infusion of HCTZ abolished age-dependent hypertension and restored 24-h sodium balance without altering the renal excretory responses to an acute 5% isotonic saline VE (Figs. 5F, G, S9). This evidence concerns the gene SLC12A3 and Hypertension.