Despite the absence of direct measurements of endothelial function, the greater circulating concentrations of VCAM‐1 in SHR as well as its association between VCAM‐1 concentrations and SBP in the present study support the role of endothelial activation in the development of hypertension (Liu et al., 1996; McCarron et al., 1994; Usui et al., 2012). This evidence concerns the gene VCAM1 and hypertensive disorder.