Influence of arterial baroreceptors and intracerebroventricular guanabenz on synchronized renal nerve activity

The contributions of changes in the number of active fibres and the peak interval of synchronized neural discharges to arterial baroreflex regulated alterations in renal sympathetic nerve activity were examined in intact conscious rats. Stimulation of central nervous system alpha 2 adrenoreceptors with intracerebroventricular guanabenz (10, 20, 40 micrograms) was used to alter renal sympathetic nerve activity by a non-reflex mechanism in both intact and sinoaortic denervated (SAD) rats. Synchronized renal sympathetic nerve discharge was analysed with the sympathetic peak detection algorithm. When arterial pressure was increased from 50 mmHg to 150 mmHg in intact rats, the peak height (number of simultaneously active fibres) of synchronized discharges decreased in a sigmoidal fashion while the peak interval remained unchanged. Guanabenz produced a dose dependent inhibition of renal sympathetic nerve activity due to both a decrease in peak height and an increase in peak interval of synchronized discharges in both intact and SAD rats. Arterial baroreflex mediated changes in renal sympathetic nerve activity are due to changes in the number of simultaneously active nerve fibres. Central nervous system alpha 2 adrenoreceptor stimulation decreases renal sympathetic nerve activity by decreasing the number of active fibres and increasing the peak interval, acting on additional neural pathways not involved in buffering acute arterial pressure changes.