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Hepatorenal baroreflex in cirrhotic rats
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242, USA.
The American Journal of Physiology
|July 1, 1995
Summary
The hepatorenal baroreflex, which regulates renal sympathetic nerve activity (RNA), remains sensitive in cirrhotic rats. This suggests the baroreflex contributes to increased RNA in liver cirrhosis.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Gastroenterology
- Nephrology
Background:
- A hepatorenal baroreflex links intrahepatic sinusoidal pressure to renal sympathetic nerve activity (RNA).
- This reflex is hypothesized to increase RNA in cirrhosis due to elevated intrahepatic pressure.
- Liver fibrosis in cirrhosis might impair intrahepatic baroreceptor sensitivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the sensitivity of the hepatorenal baroreflex in rats with cirrhosis.
- To determine if the baroreflex contributes to increased RNA in cirrhotic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Created cirrhosis in rats via common bile duct ligation (CBDL).
- Constricted the thoracic inferior vena cava to increase intrahepatic sinusoidal pressure (IVCP) in control and CBDL rats.
- Measured afferent hepatic nerve activity (HNA) and RNA in response to IVCP changes.
Main Results:
- Increased IVCP led to comparable increases in HNA and RNA in both control and CBDL rats.
- The slope gain (% delta HNA/delta IVCP) was similar between control (+7.1%/mmHg) and CBDL (+8.1%/mmHg) rats.
- No desensitization of the hepatorenal baroreflex was observed in CBDL rats.
Conclusions:
- The hepatorenal baroreflex is not desensitized in rats with cirrhosis induced by CBDL.
- The hepatorenal baroreflex is capable of contributing to the elevated RNA observed in liver cirrhosis.