Attenuation of hypothalamo-sympathetic hyperactivity by renal denervation in experimental hypertensive rats

To clarify the effect of renal nerves on hypothalamic cardiovascular regulation in hypertension, posterior hypothalamus was electrically stimulated in renal denervated SHR (RD-SHR) and DOCA hypertensive (RD-DOCA) rats during recording blood pressure and sympathetic nerve activity. In urethane anesthetized SHR, mean blood pressure was not different between RD- and sham-operated SHR 48 hours after denervation, but two weeks later, blood pressure was lower in RD-SHR. Pressor and sympathetic nerve responses to hypothalamic stimulation were partly attenuated 48 hours after denervation, but two weeks later, attenuation was strong. The development of hypertension was abolished during two weeks observation in RD-SHR. In DOCA hypertensive rats, the development of hypertension was significantly inhibited by renal denervation. Pressor and sympathetic nerve responses to hypothalamic stimulation were significantly diminished in RD-DOCA rats. Water intake and urine volume was identical in both groups. These results suggest that renal denervation inhibited the development of hypertension accompanied with the inhibition of hypothalamo-sympathetic nerve system, furthermore, it is indicated that hypothalamic cardiovascular regulation controlled by afferent renal nerve could contribute to the development of hypertension in SHR and DOCA hypertensive rats.