Sodium intake alters the effects of norepinephrine on the renin system and the kidney

To examine the interactions between sodium intake and the sympathetic nervous system and their influences on the blood pressure control system we studied eight normotensive men after high (800 mEq/d) and low (10 mEq/d) sodium intake. We measured blood pressure, arterial, venous and urinary norepinephrine (NE), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal blood flow (RBF), plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone (PA), and the fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) and potassium (FEK) before and during incremental infusion of norepinephrine. High salt intake influenced the sensitivity to NE as well as subsequent pressor responses. The NE-induced decrease in RBF and GFR was not different on high and low sodium intakes. A significant decrease in FENa (p less than 0.05) with NE infusion could only be seen during high sodium intake. A significant increase in PRA (p less than 0.01) and PA (p less than 0.05) was induced by NE only during the low sodium period. These observations reveal previously unrecognized qualitative and quantitative interactions between sodium homeostasis and norepinephrine which are capable of influencing blood pressure in man.