Abstract
Blood pressure is known to be increased in kidney donors following living-donor kidney transplantation. However, the physiological underpinnings of the blood-pressure increase following uninephrectomy remain unclear. We hypothesized that changes in sympathetic tone or in parasympathetic modulation of sinus node function are involved in the blood-pressure increase following experimental kidney-mass reduction. C57BL6N mice (6 to 11 per group) subjected to sham surgery (controls) or uninephrectomy with or without a one-week course of sodium chloride-enriched, taurine-deficient diet were studied. Uninephrectomized mice treated with a subcutaneous infusion of angiotensin-II over a period of one week were positive controls. A transfemoral aortic catheter with telemetry unit was implanted, readings of heart-rate and blood-pressure were recorded. Powerspectral analysis of heart rate and systolic blood pressure was performed to gain surrogate parameters of sympathetictone and parasympathetic modulation of sinus node function. Baroreflex sensitivity of heart rate was determined from awake, unrestrained mice using spontaneous baroreflex gain technique. Systolic arterial blood pressure, heart rate and baroreflex sensitivity were not different in uninephrectomized mice when compared to controls. Parasympathetic modulation of sinus node function was less in uninephrectomized mice in comparison to controls. Uninephrectomized mice of the high-angiotensin-II model or of the high-salt and taurine-deficiency model had an increased systolic arterial blood pressure. Uninephrectomy associated with less parasympathetic modulation of sinus node function. The combination of uninephrectomy, taurine-deficiency and high-salt intake led to arterial hypertension.
Highlights
Fifty percent of children born with a single kidney developed arterial hypertension by the age of 18 years, 40% of them needed a renal replacement therapy by the age of 30 years [1]
Parasympathetic modulation of sinus node function was less in uninephrectomized mice in comparison to controls
Uninephrectomy associated with less parasympathetic modulation of sinus node function
Summary
Fifty percent of children born with a single kidney developed arterial hypertension by the age of 18 years, 40% of them needed a renal replacement therapy by the age of 30 years [1]. Following living-donor kidney transplantation, donors were shown to have a propensity for arterial hypertension [2–4]. Female kidney donors were shown to have more gestational hypertensive complications than pregnant women from a matched non-donor cohort [5]. To address the increasing demand for kidney transplants, safety data are needed with regard to donor outcome. Blood pressure is known to be increased in kidney donors following living-donor kidney transplantation. The physiological underpinnings of the blood-pressure increase following uninephrectomy remain unclear. We hypothesized that changes in sympathetic tone or in parasympathetic modulation of sinus node function are involved in the blood-pressure increase following experimental kidney-mass reduction
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