Effect of subfornical organ ablation on the development of renal hypertension

Both the AV3V and the SFO have been shown to mediate dipsogenic and pressor responses to angiotensin. Neuroanatomical projections from the SFO to structures in the AV3V region have been associated with angiotensin effects. Since it has been shown that ablation of the AV3V region attenuates the development of experimental renal hypertension in rats, the effect of ablation of the SFO on the development of renal hypertension was examined. One kidney renal hypertension was produced by placing a figure of eight silk wrap around one kidney and removing the contralateral kidney. Rats with SFO lesions developed hypertension to a similar extent as rats with a sham lesion procedure. This study demonstrates that unlike the AV3V region the SFO is not critical for the development of non-renin dependent renal hypertension.