Effect of adrenalectomy and sodium intake on sympathetic nervous function in the rat

Abstract

Bilateral adrenalectomy in the rat produced a fall in blood pressure and increases in urinary norepinephrine excretion and tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the superior cervical ganglion. The fall in blood pressure and the increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the superior cervical ganglion were prevented by giving the adrenalectomized animals 0.9% saline as their only drinking fluid. Daily administration of 0.5 mg/kg of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) to animals that had water as their only drinking fluid diminished but did not prevent the fall in blood pressure, the increase in norepinephrine excretion or the increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity. Daily deoxyeorticosterone acetate administration to animals that had 0.9% saline to drink prevented each of these adrenalectomy-induced changes. It is suggested that sodium intake may play an important role in the adrenalectomy-induced changes in blood pressure and sympathetic nervous system function.