Blood pressure normalization in carotid barodenervated rats: role of cardiac output

This study evaluated the role of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity, peripheral hemodynamic changes, and pressure diuresis in blood pressure (BP) normalization in carotid barodenervated rats. The acute and short-term effects of carotid barodenervation or sham operation on blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, stroke volume, total peripheral resistance, and plasma catecholamine levels were determined. Changes in plasma volume, urine output, and water and food intakes were also measured. Surgical denervation of the carotid baroreceptors resulted in rapid rises in blood pressure and heart rate in anesthetized rats. These changes were associated with significant increases in plasma catecholamine levels and total peripheral resistance whereas the cardiac index and stroke volume remained unchanged. After recovery from the anesthesia, the blood pressure of carotid barodenervated rats was still significantly higher than that of sham-operated rats at 3 and 24 h after denervation and returned to sham-operated levels by 48 h. Plasma catecholamine levels and total peripheral resistance were higher in carotid barodenervated than in sham-operated rats on the 2 days following surgery. On the other hand, cardiac index (32 +/- 1 vs. 40 +/- 2 mL.min-1 x 100 g-1 body mass) and stroke volume (205 +/- 13 vs. 283 +/- 4 microL/beat) were significantly lower on day 2 in carotid barodenervated than in sham-operated rats, which suggests a compensatory role for carotid output in blood pressure normalization after carotid barodenervation. Both carotid barodenervation and sham operation caused a reduction in water and food intakes but the responses were greater in carotid barodenervated rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)