Decrease In Renal Nerve Activity Research Articles

Impaired renal response to portal infusion of hypertonic saline in adriamycin-treated rats

1. The hepatorenal reflex plays an important role in water and salt homeostasis by matching renal excretion to gastrointestinal absorption. This homeostatic mechanism is impaired in nephrotic rats. The present study tested the hypothesis that, in nephrotic rats, the renal sodium excretion response to hypertonic saline infusion is impaired due to decreased sensitivity of the hepatoportal sodium-sensing mechanism. 2. The present study was performed in control and adriamycin (ADR)-induced nephrotic syndrome rats. After baseline data collection, urinary sodium (U(Na)V) and potassium (U(K)V) excretion responses were tested following continuous infusion of hypertonic NaCl solution (20 μL/min for 30 min) into either the femoral or mesenteric vein. A second series of experiments tested hepatic and renal nerve responses to continuous mesenteric vein infusion of hypertonic NaCl (10 μL/s for 30 s). 3. Compared with control rats, nephrotic rats displayed significantly lower baseline U(Na)V and U(K)V excretion. In control rats, mesenteric compared with femoral vein infusion of hypertonic NaCl produced a more rapid and greater increase in U(Na)V. In contrast, in nephrotic rats, femoral and mesenteric vein infusion caused similar increases in U(Na)V and the maximum increases in U(Na)V to either route of infusion were much lower in nephrotic than control rats. Furthermore, portal hypertonic saline infusion caused greater increases in hepatic nerve activity and greater decreases in renal nerve activity in control compared with nephrotic rats. 4. These data suggest that, in rats, adriamycin treatment decreases hepatoportal sodium-sensing sensitivity, leading to marked impairment of hepatorenal reflex responses, potentially contributing to salt and water retention.

Reflex control of sympathetic outflow and depressed baroreflex sensitivity following myocardial infarction

Reflex control of heart rate is frequently impaired following myocardial infarction. This is referred to as depressed baroreflex sensitivity. The aim of these experiments was to assess the function of other autonomic reflexes in dogs with depressed baroreflex sensitivity. Comparisons were made to dogs in whom baroreflex sensitivity was preserved or unchanged after myocardial infarction. Under chloralose–barbiturate anesthesia, reflex control of sympathetic outflow by the sinoaortic baroreceptors was determined by measurement of changes in systolic arterial pressure and efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity during infusion of phenylephrine. Following sinoaortic denervation, reflex control of sympathetic outflow by cardiac receptors with vagal afferent fibers was determined by measurement of changes in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and renal nerve activity during blood volume expansion.Reflex decreases in renal nerve activity in response to increases in arterial pressure were similar in the two groups of dogs. In contrast, elevation of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure elicited significantly greater reflex decreases in renal nerve activity in dogs with depressed baroreflex sensitivity following myocardial infarction compared to dogs with preserved baroreflex sensitivity. Hemodynamic parameters and infarct sizes were similar in each group.In conclusion, activation of cardiac receptors with vagal afferent fibers elicited greater reflex inhibition of sympathetic outflow in dogs with depressed baroreflex sensitivity following myocardial infarction. These data suggest that these receptors are “sensitized”. These results provide additional support for the hypothesis that depressed reflex control of heart rate following myocardial infarction is related to augmented afferent input from the left ventricle.

Ventricular reflex interactions during transmural myocardial ischemia

The role of left ventricular receptors with sympathetic afferent fibers in the reflex response to myocardial ischemia is controversial, particularly in the canine model. Previous experiments have shown that reflex excitatory responses mediated by left ventricular sympathetic afferents can be detected in sinoaortic denervated and vagotomized dogs during transmural myocardial ischemia. The purpose of these experiments was to determine if reflex excitatory responses occur in dogs with intact left ventricular vagal afferents. Experiments were performed in 27 chloralose-anesthetized dogs with sinoaortic denervation. Responses of efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity, arterial, and left atrial pressures to transmural and non-transmural inferoposterior myocardial ischemia were measured before and after interruption of left ventricular sympathetic afferents by stellectomy. The adequacy of sympathetic deafferentation was assessed by measurement of renal nerve responses to epicardial bradykinin. Prior to stellectomy, excitatory responses were observed in 10 animals and inhibitory responses in 9 animals. The remaining animals had no responses and were excluded from analysis. In the excitatory group, reflex increases in renal nerve activity during both transmural and non-transmural inferoposterior ischemia were abolished by stellectomy and not replaced by inhibitory responses. In the inhibitory group, non-transmural inferoposterior ischemia elicited greater reflex decreases in renal nerve activity when left ventricular sympathetic afferents were intact. After stellectomy, transmural ischemia elicited greater reflex inhibition of renal nerve activity. Renal nerve responses to epicardial bradykinin were abolished by stellectomy. These results indicate that reflex excitatory responses mediated by left ventricular receptors with sympathetic afferent fibers can be elicited in dogs with intact vagal afferents. These excitatory responses are most apparent during transmural myocardial ischemia. In dogs with inhibitory responses to coronary occlusion, activation of sympathetic afferents during transmural ischemia appears to attenuate reflex inhibitory responses mediated by left ventricular vagal afferents.

Factors regulating renal angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in the rat.

Changes in angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity appear to be important in mediating the natriuresis which ensues after administration of an oral or gastric sodium load. In this study, we sought to determine the time course of the changes in ACE activity in the kidney which occur after sodium ingestion. In addition, we sought to investigate mechanisms which might underlie these changes. Angiotensin-converting enzyme activity was measured by generation of histidyl-leucine in homogenates of kidneys harvested at varying time-points after gastric sodium administration. The effects of intravenous sodium loading, solution osmolality and of changes in renal nerve activity were also investigated. Intragastric instillation of both the sodium-containing solution and its iso-osmotic urea control solution resulted in significant increases in renal ACE activity (NaCl: P < 0.0005; Urea: P < 0.01). The increase in renal ACE activity after gastric sodium loading was more prolonged than after the urea control (P < 0.025, NaCl vs. urea at 90 min). This prolonged increase in renal ACE activity appeared to reflect a response to absorbed sodium as intravenous sodium administration caused a significant increase in renal ACE activity at 90 min (P < 0.0005). In contrast to these stimuli which increased renal ACE activity, renal denervation caused a significant decrease in ACE activity in the kidney (P < 0.05). We conclude that gastric sodium loading increases renal ACE activity. This effect appears to be due initially to a response to an increase in gastric lumenal osmolality and later to absorbed sodium. These changes in renal ACE activity are not mediated by a decrease in renal nerve activity.

17β-Estradiol modulates baroreflex sensitivity and autonomic tone of female rats

The following experiments examine the role of estrogen as a central modulator of autonomic tone and baroreflex sensitivity in the female rat. Female Sprague–Dawley rats were ovariectomized and then supplemented daily for 7 days with a fixed dose of estrogen (5 μg/kg; sc) to produce a stable level of estrogen similar to that present at proestrous (17 pg/ml). The rats were then anaesthetized with sodium thiobutabarbital (100 mg/kg) and instrumented to record blood pressure, heart rate and both vagal and renal efferent nerve activities. The sensitivity of the cardiac baroreflex was tested using intravenous injection of multiple doses of either phenylephrine hydrochloride or sodium nitroprusside. Estrogen-supplemented female rats exhibited a significantly enhanced BRS as compared to male rats from a previous study (0.78 vs. 0.5). Furthermore, bolus injection of estrogen (1×10 −2 mg/kg; iv) in estrogen-supplemented female rats produced a significant increase in vagal nerve activity and a significant decrease in renal nerve activity which together resulted in a further enhancement of the BRS (0.78 vs. 2.4). Injection of the selective estrogen receptor antagonist, ICI 182,780, into nucleus ambiguus and the intrathecal space of the spinal cord blocked the respective changes in parasympathetic and sympathetic nerve activities indicating that intravenously administered estrogen modulates baseline autonomic tone via the activation of central estrogen receptors.

Stimulation of gastric osmoreceptors but not the sodium monitor increases renal angiotensin-converting enzyme activity.

1. Stimulation of the gastric sodium monitor has been reported to cause a decrease in renal nerve activity and also a decrease in plasma renin activity in renal venous blood. This suggests that changes in sympathetic nerve activity and in the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system may mediate the natriuresis that occurs following gastric sodium administration. In the present study we sought to determine whether gastric sodium administration also modulates angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in the kidney. 2. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were equilibrated on a low-sodium (0.008%) diet for 7 days. On the day of the experiment, rats were anaesthetized and kidneys were harvested and immediately snap frozen at 0 and 60 min after intragastric administration of a saline load (1.5 mmol/kg as 3 mol/L saline) or an equivalent volume of iso-osmotic urea (5.95%). Angiotensin-converting enzyme activity was determined by incubation of kidney homogenates with hippuryl-histidyl-leucine and fluorometric assay of the histidyl-leucine generated. 3. Angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in the kidney increased in response to the intragastric administration of both sodium chloride and urea. Angiotensin-converting enzyme activity increased significantly from control levels (189.9 +/- 24.3 nmol/min per g protein) by 60 min in both NaCl-and urea-treated groups (492.3 +/- 27.3 and 468.6 +/- 28.7 nmol/min per g protein, respectively; P < 0.0005). 4. We conclude that instillation of sodium chloride or isoosmotic urea into the stomach increase ACE activity in the kidney. The results of the present study suggest that this effect is due to changes in osmolality rather than stimulation of the gastric sodium monitor.

Response of renal nerve activity to high NaCl food intake in dogs with chronic bile duct ligation

Hepatic sensory systems are thought to play an important role in the response of renal nerve activity and natriuresis to oral NaCl load. In this study, responses of renal nerve activity and urinary Na+ and Cl- excretions to a high-NaCl food intake (20 g/kg boiled rice containing 0.4 g/kg NaCl) were examined in sham-operated dogs (n = 12) and dogs with chronic bile duct ligation (CBDL; n = 10). In sham-operated dogs, renal nerve activity gradually decreased and reached minimal value (50% +/- 7% of the control value) at 100 minutes after the high-NaCl food intake and remained depressed until 4 hours after the food intake. Of the orally administered sodium and chloride, 27% +/- 5% and 23% +/- 6% were excreted over the following 4 hours, respectively. In CBDL dogs, the decrease in renal nerve activity induced by the high-NaCl food was completely abolished and only 4% +/- 1% of the loaded Na+ and 3% +/- 2% of the loaded Cl- were excreted. Furthermore, liver tissue norepinephrine concentration in CBDL dogs decreased to 21% of that of sham-operated dogs. These results suggest that (1) In CBDL dogs, the decrease in renal nerve activity induced by a high-NaCl food is completely abolished, probably because of the impairment of hepatic neural regulation. (2) The lack of renal nerve response may contribute, at least in part, to the abnormalities in body fluid homeostasis in cirrhosis. (Hepatology 1996 Feb;23(2):303-9)

Response of renal nerve activity to high NaCl food intake in dogs with chronic bile duct ligation

Hepatic sensory systems are thought to play an important role in the response of renal nerve activity and natriuresis to oral NaCl load. In this study, responses of renal nerve activity and urinary Na+ and Cl- excretions to a high-NaCl food intake (20 g/kg boiled rice containing 0.4 g/kg NaCl) were examined in sham-operated dogs (n = 12) and dogs with chronic bile duct ligation (CBDL; n = 10). In sham-operated dogs, renal nerve activity gradually decreased and reached minimal value (50% +/- 7% of the control value) at 100 minutes after the high-NaCl food intake and remained depressed until 4 hours after the food intake. Of the orally administered sodium and chloride, 27% +/- 5% and 23% +/- 6% were excreted over the following 4 hours, respectively. In CBDL dogs, the decrease in renal nerve activity induced by the high-NaCl food was completely abolished and only 4% +/- 1% of the loaded Na+ and 3% +/- 2% of the loaded Cl- were excreted. Furthermore, liver tissue norepinephrine concentration in CBDL dogs decreased to 21% of that of sham-operated dogs. These results suggest that (1) In CBDL dogs, the decrease in renal nerve activity induced by a high-NaCl food is completely abolished, probably because of the impairment of hepatic neural regulation. (2) The lack of renal nerve response may contribute, at least in part, to the abnormalities in body fluid homeostasis in cirrhosis.

Effect of chromogranin A on central autonomic control of blood pressure

We investigated the effect of exogenous chromogranin A (CgA) on central autonomic structures involved in the control of blood pressure. Actions of CgA were assessed on neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla, the most important brain area for cardiovascular control and for generation of sympathetic activity. Changes in renal sympathetic nerve activity, arterial pressure, heart rate, and somato-sympathetic reflexes were measured after microinjections of chromogranin A into the rostral ventrolateral medulla of anesthetized rats. The sites of microinjection of chromogranin A were determined from well known sympathetic and cardiovascular responses to microinjection of the inhibitory amino acid glycine. Significant decreases in renal nerve activity and arterial blood pressure began 10 min after microinjection of chromogranin A into the rostral ventrolateral medulla, and the maximum effect was observed at 20 min. Moreover, the bulbar component of somato-sympathetic reflexes was depressed 20 min after microinjections of chromogranin A. Our results indicate that chromogranin A can modify the activity of neurons within rostral ventrolateral medulla involved in regulation of cardiovascular autonomic control.

Differential control of sympathetic activity to kidney and skeletal muscle by ventral medullary neurons

A rise in arterial blood pressure can be evoked by microinjections of d,l-homocysteic acid into localized regions of the ventrolateral medulla of the cat. Three patterns of sympathetic discharge can be identified during the pressor response. A differential pattern consisting of an increase in renal nerve activity and no change in sympathetic activity to skeletal muscle vasculature can be elicited from sites ventromedial to the caudal pole of the facial nucleus. From more lateral and caudal sites, a generalized sympatho-excitation is evoked in the outflow to both the kidney and hindlimb muscle vasculature. A third response consisting of a differential increase in muscle sympathetic activity simultaneous with a small decrease in renal nerve activity could be evoked from caudal sites, lateral to the inferior olives and superficial to the ventral surface. The results show that ventral medullary neurons can selectively activate sympathetic outflow to control specific vascular beds. These data may support the hypothesis that the ventrolateral medulla contains discrete groups of topographically arranged neurons that can differentially control sympathetic tone to various end-organs.

Neural control of urinary sodium excretion during hypertonic NaCl load in conscious rabbits: role of renal and hepatic nerves and baroreceptors

We examined responses of renal nerve activity, urine flow, and urinary Na+ excretion to a hypertonic NaCl infusion in chronically instrumented conscious rabbits with unilateral renal denervation. The intravenous infusion of 20% NaCl, at 0.2 ml/min for 30 min, increased plasma osmolality by 27 +/- 5 mOsm/kg, and plasma Na+ by 16 +/- 3 mEq/l, and decreased hematocrit by 5 +/- 1%. These changes were accompanied by a marked decrease in renal nerve activity by 82 + 7%. Urine flow and urinary Na+ excretion increased gradually and peaked at the end of infusion. The innervated kidney excreted 23.3 +/- 3.3 ml urine and 5.5 +/- 0.7 mEq Na+ for the subsequent 60 min. However, the contralateral denervated kidney excreted only 9.5 +/- 2.0 ml urine and 2.2 +/- 0.6 mEq Na+; these values were significantly less than those of the innervated kidney. To examine the role of the sinoaortic and cardiopulmonary baroreceptors and the hepatic nerves in the response of renal nerve activity to the hypertonic NaCl infusion, renal nerve activity was examined in conscious rabbits with sinoaortic baroreceptor denervation (SAD) plus vagotomy and/or section of the anterior and posterior hepatic nerves (SAPH). In rabbits with SAD plus vagotomy or SAPH, the NaCl infusion also decreased renal nerve activity. After combining SAPH and SAD plus vagotomy, the decrease in renal nerve activity was completely blocked. These results indicate that hypertonic NaCl infusion elicits a marked decrease in renal nerve activity which is mediated predominantly by sinoaortic and cardiopulmonary baroreflexes and the hepatic nerves, and that the decrease in renal nerve activity plays an important role in the augmentation of renal function.

Effects of hepatic NaCl receptor stimulation on renal nerve activity in conscious rabbits

The effects of intrahepatic NaCl or osmo-receptor stimulation on renal nerve activity were examined in chronically instrumented conscious rabbits. Combined infusions of 9% NaCl via the portal vein and distilled water via the inferior vena cava did not alter plasma osmolality or plasma Na concentration of the systemic circulation but decreased renal nerve activity. Combined infusion of 6.5% LiCl and distilled water did not have any effects on renal nerve activity. The decrease in renal nerve activity induced by portal 9% NaCl infusions was completely abolished after section of the anterior and posterior hepatic nerves. These results indicate that stimulation of the intrahepatic NaCl receptors, not of the osmoreceptors, elicits a reflex decrease in renal nerve activity, which is mainly mediated by the anterior and posterior hepatic nerves.

Subcortical sites mediating sympathetic responses from insular cortex in rats

Stimulation of the insular cortex elicits a number of autonomic responses. The insular cortex projects directly to the lateral hypothalamic area, the parabrachial nucleus, and the nucleus of the solitary tract, which in turn project directly to sympathetic preganglionic areas. To determine which of these subcortical sites mediates sympathetic responses evoked from the insular cortex, changes in renal nerve activity were recorded before and after injection of the synaptic blocking agent cobalt into each of these regions. Blood pressure, heart rate, and renal nerve activity were continuously monitored in chloralose or urethan-anesthetized rats. Single-pulse electrical stimulation (200 microA, 1 ms) elicited either an early increase or decrease in renal nerve activity from pressor and depressor sites, respectively, in the insular cortex. Cobalt injections (500 nl) into the lateral hypothalamic area attenuated the nerve response 10-100%. Cobalt injections into the nucleus of the solitary tract significantly enhanced the initial increase in the nerve response obtained from pressor sites in the insular cortex. Injections into the parabrachial nucleus did not affect the nerve responses. These results suggest that there is a mandatory synapse in the lateral hypothalamic area in the pathway from the insular cortex to the sympathetic nervous system.

Depressed baroreflex control of renal nerve activity in conscious WHHL rabbits

The baroreflex control of heart rate and renal nerve activity were examined in conscious Watanabe heritable hyperlipidaemic (WHHL) rabbits. Normal Japanese white rabbits were used as controls. The concentrations of serum cholesterol and triglyceride in WHHL rabbits were ten times higher than those in normal rabbits. The basal values of mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure and heart rate in WHHL rabbits were significantly higher than those in normal rabbits. Baroreceptors were stimulated or unloaded by raising or lowering arterial pressure with injections of phenylephrine or glyceryl trinitrate respectively. The peak changes in heart rate and renal nerve activity were plotted against the peak changes in mean arterial pressure, and a logistic function curve was fitted to the relationships between mean arterial pressure and heart rate, or mean arterial pressure and renal nerve activity. The slopes of both heart rate and renal nerve activity declined in WHHL rabbits. The response of renal nerve activity to acute volume expansion (10 ml.kg-1) with isotonic iso-oncotic dextran was further examined. In the normal rabbit, volume expansion caused renal nerve activity to decrease by 60 +/- 5%, while mean arterial pressure did not change. In the WHHL rabbit the decrease in renal nerve activity caused by volume expansion was significantly attenuated (42 +/- 3%). These results indicate that both sino-aortic and cardiopulmonary baroreceptor mediated changes in renal nerve activity were impaired in the WHHL rabbit.

Opiate receptor-mediated decrease in renal nerve activity during hypotensive hemorrhage in conscious rabbits.

Effects of hemorrhage on renal nerve activity and of subsequent opiate receptor blockade with naloxone were studied in conscious rabbits. Mean arterial pressure remained constant at 77 +/- 2 mm Hg through 17 +/- 2 ml/kg hemorrhage, while renal nerve activity increased by 159 +/- 16%. After 25 +/- 1 ml/kg hemorrhage, mean arterial pressure fell by 42 +/- 3 mm Hg, and renal nerve activity decreased below the prehemorrhagic control level by 41 +/- 15%. Bolus injection of naloxone (3 mg/kg i.v.) increased mean arterial pressure to 79 +/- 2 mm Hg, not significantly different from the prehemorrhagic control level. Renal nerve activity increased by 171 +/- 28%, comparable to the peak increase during nonhypotensive hemorrhage. On a different day, hemorrhage was repeated, and phenylephrine was infused during the subsequent hypotension. Phenylephrine increased mean arterial pressure to the prehemorrhagic control level. With increasing mean arterial pressure, renal nerve activity increased from its level during hypotensive hemorrhage and recovered toward the prehemorrhagic control level (-26 +/- 11%), but it did not return to the peak value reached during nonhypotensive hemorrhage. To further examine the blocking effects of naloxone on changes in mean arterial pressure and renal nerve activity induced by exogenous opiate peptides, methionine-enkephalin was injected both in the control state and after treatment with naloxone. A bolus injection of methionine-enkephalin (10 micrograms/kg) decreased mean arterial pressure (-8.1 +/- 2.0 mm Hg) and renal nerve activity (-95 +/- 1%). Pretreatment with naloxone (0.5 mg/kg) effectively blocked this depressor effect and reduction in renal nerve activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of chemical stimulation of paraventricular nucleus on adrenal and renal nerve activity in rats.

The effects of stimulation of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) by L-glutamate on blood pressure and ongoing activities of adrenal and renal sympathetic nerves were examined in anesthetized rats. Microinjection of excitatory amino acid, L-glutamate (100 nmol in 200 nl saline), into the unilateral PVN resulted in an increase in the ipsilateral adrenal nerve activity, while it resulted in decreases in renal nerve activity and arterial blood pressure. After severance of bilateral carotid sinus and vagal nerves, the decreased response of blood pressure to the same stimulus did not change, while the decreased response of renal nerve activity was almost abolished, and the increased response of adrenal nerve activity still remained, though it slightly attenuated. The involvements of baroreceptor afferents and vagal afferents in these responses were discussed.

Dietary salt loading produces baroreflex impairment and mild hypertension in rats.

Mild hypertension with reduced chronotropic baroreflex sensitivity to phenylephrine occurred in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-salt diet for 5 wk. Progressive elevation of systolic and mean pressures, detected initially by indirect tail-cuff measurement, was later verified by direct recording of phasic pressures from indwelling aortic catheters in the same rats. Reflex bradycardia during pressor responses to phenylephrine was consistently less pronounced in salt-loaded than in control rats, whether tested while rats were awake or anesthetized. However, attendant decreases in renal nerve activity were not appreciably altered. Neither central nor carotid baroreceptor mechanisms were considered likely but aortic baroreceptors must have somehow been depressed because increases in afferent aortic nerve activity elicited during intravenous infusion of phenylephrine were invariably smaller in salt-loaded than in control rats. Whatever the underlying mechanisms may be, our results show that when hypertension develops during dietary salt loading, baroreflex chronotropic responses are selectively inhibited while attendant decreases in renal nerve activity are preserved.

Baroreflex regulation of renal nerve activity during volume expansion

Volume expansion could inhibit renal nerve activity by stimulating cardiopulmonary baroreflexes or by increasing arterial pressure (i.e., stimulating the sinoaortic baroreflexes). Our study assessed the relative roles of these two reflexes in the renal nerve activity responses to volume expansion (15 ml/kg 6% dextran in normal saline). With cardiopulmonary and arterial baroreflexes intact, volume expansion resulted in increases in arterial pressure and pulmonary artery wedge pressure and in decreases in renal nerve activity. After sinoaortic denervation, volume expansion resulted in similar decreases in renal nerve activity for similar increases in pulmonary artery wedge pressure. In contrast, after selective vagotomy (sinoaortic baroreflexes intact) volume expansion resulted in increases in arterial pressure and pulmonary artery wedge pressure, but reductions in renal nerve activity were markedly attenuated. After sinoaortic denervation and vagotomy, volume expansion did not result in significant changes in renal nerve activity. We conclude that decreases in renal nerve activity during volume expansion are mediated mainly by cardiopulmonary receptors with afferent vagal fibers. Sinoaortic baroreceptors appear to play a minor role in mediating these responses.

Sensitization of vagal cardiopulmonary baroreflex by chronic digoxin.

It has been recently reported that intracoronary acetylstrophanthidin injection acutely sensitizes the cardiac baroreflex (vagal afferents). We wondered whether chronic administration of digoxin also augmented the gain of this reflex. We treated seven dogs with digoxin intravenously (40 micrograms/kg loading dose followed by 15 micrograms.kg-1.day-1) for 7 days; eight additional dogs received vehicle for 7 days. With the dogs under chloralose anesthesia, we assessed the changes in renal nerve activity that resulted from stimulation of cardiopulmonary receptors with volume expansion (15 ml/kg of 6% dextran in saline) in digoxin- and vehicle-treated groups under control conditions, after sinoaortic denervation (SAD), and after SAD plus vagotomy. Under control conditions volume expansion resulted in decreases of renal nerve activity of 13.5 +/- 3.5%/mmHg increase in pulmonary artery wedge pressure in digoxin-treated dogs. This tended to be greater than the response of sham-treated dogs (-9.5 +/- 1.5%/mmHg increase). After SAD, renal nerve activity decreased 19 +/- 5%/mmHg increase in pulmonary artery wedge pressure in the digoxin group compared with only 8 +/- 1%/mmHg increase in the vehicle group. These responses were significantly different. The plasma digoxin level in the digoxin-treated group was in the therapeutic range (1.9 +/- 0.4 ng/ml). Vagotomy abolished the responses to volume expansion in both groups. Thus chronic digoxin treatment resulting in therapeutic plasma levels of digoxin sensitizes vagal afferents mediating the cardiopulmonary baroreflex influence on renal nerve activity.

Efferent renal nerve activity during intracarotid and intracerebroventricular infusions of hypertonic sodium chloride solutions and isotonic volume expansion in the rat.

The change in renal nerve activity under conditions known to increase renal sodium excretion was studied. In adult Sprague Dawley rats, anaesthetized with Inactin, normotonic and hypertonic NaCl solutions were infused into 1) a vein, 2) a carotid artery and 3) the third ventricle. The left kidney was freed and placed in a plastic cup. A renal nerve was dissected free and placed on a stainless bipolar electrode. The nerve was cut distal to the electrode. The nerve signals were amplified and recorded on a tape recorder. Simultaneously integrated nerve signals and also atrial and venous pressures were recorded. Intracarotid infusion of a 1 M NaCl solution increased sodium output and temporarily decreased renal nerve activity by some 35%. Corresponding intravenous (i.v.) infusion gave an increase in renal nerve activity and also in sodium output. The latter increase was delayed compared with that caused by the intracarotid infusion. No variations in blood pressure were noted. In control experiments with a slow i.v. infusion of physiological saline, renal nerve activity increased throughout the experiment, while sodium excretion remained constant. During infusion of a 1 M NaCl solution into the third ventricle, renal nerve activity decreased in about half of the cases. This reduction was often accompanied by an increased arterial blood pressure and an increased sodium output. Arterial blood pressure increases were especially pronounced at the highest infusion rats, i.e. 800 ml-min-1. Isotonic volume expansion of 2% of the body weight resulted in a transient decrease in renal nerve activity by about 30%. Venous blood pressure rose and sodium output increased six-fold. The decrease in nerve activity was observed both when the vagal nerves were intact and when they were cut.