Contributions of central sympathetic neural activity to furosemide-induced increases in plasma renin activity and noradrenaline.

Abstract

To evaluate the role of the central nervous system on the furosemide-induced increases in plasma noradrenaline (PNA), renin activity (PRA), and aldosterone concentration (PAC), central vasoactive sympathetic structures were inhibited by intravertebral artery infusion of colnidine. Intravertebral artery infusion of clonidine (0.06 microgram/Kg/min) significantly reduced basal PNA, heart rate, and arterial pressure, while both PRA and PAC were increased. Intravenous infusion of the same dose of clonidine caused no significant changes in PNA, PRA, and PAC. Intravertebral artery infusion of clonidine (0.02 or 0.1 microgram/Kg/min) significantly suppressed the furosemide-induced increases in PNA and heart rate, and induced a drop in arterial pressure. Although the furosemide-induced increase in PRA was suppressed by intravertebral artery infusion of clonidine, the furosemide-induced increase in PAC was not affected. These results suggest that the furosemide-induced increase in PNA may be mediated by the central sympathetic nervous system and that some of the furosemide-induced increase in PRA may be mediated by central sympathetic neural activation.