Premium
Effects of bilateral renal denervation on blood pressure in older Sprague‐Dawley rats
Author(s) -
GilliamDavis Shea,
GarciaEspinosa Maria A.,
Tommasi Ellen N.,
Chappell Mark C.,
Diz Debra I.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a1209-b
Subject(s) - denervation , blood pressure , medicine , renal function , excretion , kidney , endocrinology , anesthesia , urology
Increased renal sympathetic nerve activity with advancing age is associated with reduced renal function. Renal denervation lowers blood pressure in hypertensive rats during development of the hypertension, but the long‐term outcome of renal denervation on blood pressure in the older rat is not well documented. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the contribution of the renal nerves to blood pressure and renal function in the older rat. Male Sprague Dawley rats aged 18 – 23 months were subjected to either bilateral renal denervation or sham operation. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), fluid intake and urine volume were determined daily before and for the first 5 days after surgery, and then weekly for 4 weeks. SBP was lower in the denervated versus sham group at days 4 (110 ± 4 vs 94 ± 3 mm Hg; p < 0.02) and 6 (115 ± 5 vs 100 ± 2 mm Hg; p < 0.03) post‐surgery. SBP was similar in sham and denervated animals at 11 days post‐surgery and thereafter. Fluid balance was similar during the first two days post‐surgery but there was a trend for greater cumulative retention of fluid in the denervated animals from days 3 to 5. We conclude that renal nerves may contribute to the maintenance of blood pressure in older rats and enhance excretion of fluid at a lower pressure in the acute period after their removal. However, fluid retention may be the reason for the failure to sustain a lower pressure in the older denervated rats over the long‐term. Support: HL51952 and HL51952‐S1