Race based differences exist in the risk and severity of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, with African-American individuals typically being at greater risk compared with white individuals. Nearly half of African-American adults have hypertension, compared with one-third of whites. Additionally, salt-sensitivity denotes the impaired ability to handle a salt load with resulting increases in blood pressure. It is estimated that 75% of hypertensive African-Americans exhibit salt-sensitivity, compared with 35% of hypertensive whites. Why this predilection towards salt-sensitivity exists, particularly among African-American individuals, is not well understood. Thus, establishing the origins of salt retention in African Americans has biologic, preventative, and therapeutic importance, and may provide insight regarding racial differences in cardiovascular risk.