[Effect of stimulation of renal afferent nerves on plasma cortisol concentrations]

The effect of stimulation of the renal afferent nerve (RAN) on plasma cortisol concentrations before and after lesions of paraventricular nuclei of hypothalamus (PVN) in chloralose-anesthetized cats was investigated. In animals with intact arterial baroreceptor stimulation of RAN did not significantly change the plasma cortisol concentration. However, the same stimulation elicited a significant increase in plasma cortisol concentration when the baroreceptor was denervated. Lesioning of bilateral PVN by kainic acid could abolish the cortisol response to stimulation of RAN. These data indicate that arterial baroreceptor reflex inhibited the cortisol response to stimulation of RAN and that PVN may be involved in the cortisol response to stimulation of RAN.