Is the chronically denervated kidney supersensitive to catecholamines?

2002 ◽  
Vol 282 (2) ◽  
pp. R603-R610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohit Ramchandra ◽  
Carolyn J. Barrett ◽  
Sarah-Jane Guild ◽  
Simon C. Malpas

One method for discerning the role of the renal sympathetic nerves in the regulation of renal function has been to chronically denervate one kidney. One concern with this approach is that increased renal responsiveness to plasma levels of norepinephrine may develop over time. This may reduce the apparent magnitude of the effect of the renal nerves or indeed completely mask their effect. In the present experiment, we used the rabbit unilateral denervated kidney model to examine the acute renal blood flow responses to phenylephrine to determine if there were differences between the responses in chronically denervated kidneys compared with either intact or acutely denervated kidneys. In addition, we examined the responses in rabbits that had been made hypertensive using a continuous infusion of ANG II for 7 wk. We found that chronic denervation did not result in increased renal responsiveness to phenylephrine compared with either the intact or acutely denervated kidney, suggesting that differences in renal function between renal nerve-intact and -denervated kidneys observed in previous studies are unlikely to be confounded by supersensitivity. These results suggest that the unilateral denervated kidney model is a valid model to study the role of the renal nerves in the regulation of renal function.

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (3) ◽  
pp. F524-F529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Quan ◽  
Michel Baum

The proximal tubule synthesizes and luminally secretes high levels of angiotensin II, which modulate proximal tubule transport independently of systemic angiotensin II. The purpose of this in vivo microperfusion study is to examine whether the renal nerves modulate the effect of intraluminal angiotensin II on proximal tubule transport. The decrement in volume reabsorption after addition of 10−4 M luminal enalaprilat is a measure of the role of luminal angiotensin II on transport. Acute denervation decreased volume reabsorption (2.97 ± 0.14 vs. 1.30 ± 0.21 nl · mm−1 · min−1, P < 0.001). Although luminal 10−4 M enalaprilat decreased volume reabsorption in controls (2.97 ± 0.14 vs. 1.61 ± 0.26 nl · mm−1 · min−1, P < 0.001), it did not after acute denervation (1.30 ± 0.21 vs. 1.55 ± 0.19 nl · mm−1 · min−1). After chronic denervation, volume reabsorption was unchanged from sham controls (2.26 ± 0.28 vs. 2.70 ± 0.19 nl · mm−1 · min−1). Addition of luminal 10−4 M enalaprilat decreased volume reabsorption in sham control (2.70 ± 0.19 vs. 1.60 ± 0.10 nl · mm−1 · min−1, P < 0.05) but not with chronic denervation (2.26 ± 0.28 vs. 2.07 ± 0.20 nl · mm−1 · min−1). Addition of 10−8 M angiotensin II to the lumen does not affect transport due to the presence of luminal angiotensin II. However, addition of 10−8 M angiotensin II to the tubular lumen increased the volume reabsorption after both acute (1.30 ± 0.21 vs. 2.67 ± 0.18 nl · mm−1 · min−1, P < 0.05) and chronic denervation (2.26 ± 0.28 vs. 3.57 ± 0.44 nl · mm−1 · min−1, P < 0.01). These data indicate that renal denervation abolished the luminal enalaprilat-sensitive component of proximal tubule transport, which is consistent with the renal nerves playing a role in the modulation of the intraluminal angiotensin II mediated component of proximal tubule transport.


1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 733-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Michael Wyss

The kidney is the most highly innervated peripheral organ, and both the excretory and endocrine functions of the kidney are regulated by renal nerve activity. The kidney plays a dominant role in body fluid homeostasis, blood ionic concentration, and pH and thereby contributes importantly to systemic blood pressure control. Early studies suggested that the neural-renal interactions were responsible only for short-term adjustments in renal function, but more recent studies indicate that the renal nerves may be a major contributor to chronic renal defects leading to established hypertension and (or) renal disease. The neural-renal interaction is also of considerable interest as a model to elucidate the interplay between the nervous system and peripheral organs, since there is abundant anatomical and physiological information characterizing the renal nerves. The investigator has easy access to the renal nerves and the neural influence on renal function is directly quantifiable both in vivo and in vitro. In this symposium that was presented at the 1990 annual convention of the Society for Neuroscience in St. Louis, Missouri, three prominent researchers evaluate the most recent progress in understanding the interplay between the nervous system and the kidney and explore how the results of these studies relate to the broader questions concerning the nervous system's interactions.First, Luciano Barajas examines the detailed anatomy of the intrarenal distribution of the efferent and afferent renal nerves along the nephron and vasculature, and he evaluates the physiological role of each of the discrete components of the innervation. His basic science orientation combined with his deep appreciation of the clinical consequence of the failure of neural-renal regulation enhances his discussion of the anatomy. Ulla C. Kopp discusses the role of the renorenal reflex, which alters renal responses following stimulation of the contralateral kidney. She also considers her recent findings that efferent renal nerve activity can directly modify sensory feedback to the spinal cord from the kidney. Finally, J. Michael Wyss examines the functional consequences of neural control of the kidney in health and disease. Although the nervous system has often been considered as only an acute regulator of visceral function, current studies into hypertension and renal disease suggest that neural-renal dysfunction may be an important contributor to chronic diseases.Together, these presentations examine most of the recent advances in the area of neural-renal interactions and point out how these data form a basis for future research into neuronal interactions with all visceral organs. The relative simplicity of the neural-renal interaction makes this system an important model with which to elucidate all neural-peripheral and neural-neural interactions.


1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (1) ◽  
pp. H285-H291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francine G. Smith ◽  
Isam Abu-Amarah

To investigate the role of renal sympathetic nerves in modulating cardiovascular and endocrine responses to hemorrhage early in life, we carried out three experiments in conscious, chronically instrumented lambs with intact renal nerves (intact; n = 8) and with bilateral renal denervation (denervated; n = 5). Measurements were made 1 h before and 1 h after 0, 10, and 20% hemorrhage. Blood pressure decreased transiently after 20% hemorrhage in intact lambs and returned to control levels. In denervated lambs, however, blood pressure remained decreased after 60 min. After 20% hemorrhage, heart rate increased from 170 ± 16 to 207 ± 18 beats/min in intact lambs but not in denervated lambs, in which basal heart rates were already elevated to 202 ± 21 beats/min. Despite an elevated plasma renin activity (PRA) measured in denervated (12.0 ± 6.4 ng ANG I ⋅ ml−1 ⋅ h−1) compared with intact lambs (4.0 ± 1.1 ng ANG I ⋅ ml−1 ⋅ h−1), the increase in PRA in response to 20% hemorrhage was similar in both groups. Plasma levels of arginine vasopressin increased from 11 ± 8 to 197 ± 246 pg/ml after 20% hemorrhage in intact lambs but remained unaltered in denervated lambs from baseline levels of 15 ± 10 pg/ml. These observations provide evidence that in the newborn, renal sympathetic nerves modulate cardiovascular and endocrine responses to hemorrhage.


2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (3) ◽  
pp. R633-R641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald F. DiBona

Cannon equated the fluid matrix of the body with Bernard’s concept of the internal environment and emphasized the importance of “the safe-guarding of an effective fluid matrix.” He further emphasized the important role of the autonomic nervous system in the establishment and maintenance of homeostasis in the internal environment. This year’s Cannon Lecture discusses the important role of the renal sympathetic nerves to regulate various aspects of overall renal function and to serve as one of the major “self-regulatory agencies which operate to preserve the constancy of the fluid matrix.”


1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (1) ◽  
pp. R194-R202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunlong Huang ◽  
Edward J. Johns

This study examined the renal nerve-dependent renal hemodynamic and tubular responses to somatosensory stimulation in the anesthetized rat by use of subcutaneously applied capsaicin when the action of ANG II was blocked peripherally or selectively within the brain. Activation of skin somatosensory receptors caused a transient reversible 10–15% increase in blood pressure, and while renal perfusion pressure was regulated at control levels, there was a transient fall in urine flow and sodium excretion even though both renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate were unchanged. These reflexly induced excretory responses were abolished when the renal nerves were sectioned. Administration of the ANG II AT1-receptor antagonist, losartan, either intravenously at 3 or 10 mg/kg or locally into the lateral cerebroventricles at 15 μg plus 7.5 μg/h, had no effect on capsaicin-induced vasopressor responses but blocked the reductions in urine flow and sodium excretion. These findings are consistent with ANG II being involved in at least two stages in the reflex, one centrally and one at the periphery.


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (5) ◽  
pp. R1050-R1055 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. G. Smith ◽  
T. Sato ◽  
O. J. McWeeny ◽  
J. M. Klinkefus ◽  
J. E. Robillard

To investigate the role of renal sympathetic nerves in the fetal response to hypervolemia, studies were carried out in conscious, chronically instrumented fetal sheep aged 137-142 days of gestation. Bilateral renal denervation (n = 9) or sham surgery (n = 8) was carried out under halothane anesthesia 3-6 days before experiments. Bilateral renal denervation did not alter basal fetal renal hemodynamics, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), or Na+ excretion. Volume expansion with 6% Dextran 70 (18 ml/kg) was associated with a fall in fetal hematocrit, a sustained increase in mean arterial blood pressure, and a sustained diuresis and natriuresis. There was no significant change in GFR during fetal hypervolemia from control levels of 4.51 +/- 0.74 ml/min (intact) and 4.43 +/- 0.43 ml/min (denervated). Atrial natriuretic factor increased from 144 +/- 34 to 464 +/- 134 pg/ml, and plasma renin activity decreased from 5.15 +/- 1.7 to 3.04 +/- 1.0 ng.ml-1.h-1 in intact animals, within 30 min of completion of the dextran infusion. Similar changes occurred in denervated fetuses. Plasma aldosterone levels remained constant in intact and denervated fetuses during hypervolemia at control levels of 40.8 +/- 5.4 and 59.3 +/- 8.4 pg/ml, respectively. These findings suggest that renal sympathetic nerves do not influence basal renal hemodynamics or function and do not appear to play an important role in the natriuretic response to volume expansion during fetal life. This can be explained by a low tonic renal nerve activity before birth.


2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (6) ◽  
pp. R1889-R1896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia Michaels ◽  
Gabriela A. Eppel ◽  
Sandra L. Burke ◽  
Geoffrey A. Head ◽  
James Armitage ◽  
...  

We tested whether mild adiposity alters responsiveness of the kidney to activation of the renal sympathetic nerves. After rabbits were fed a high-fat or control diet for 9 wk, responses to reflex activation of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) with hypoxia and electrical stimulation of the renal nerves (RNS) were examined under pentobarbital anesthesia. Fat pad mass and body weight were, respectively, 74% and 6% greater in fat-fed rabbits than controls. RNS produced frequency-dependent reductions in renal blood flow, cortical and medullary perfusion, glomerular filtration rate, urine flow, and sodium excretion and increased renal plasma renin activity (PRA) overflow. Responses of sodium excretion and medullary perfusion were significantly enhanced by fat feeding. For example, 1 Hz RNS reduced sodium excretion by 79 ± 4% in fat-fed rabbits and 46 ± 13% in controls. RNS (2 Hz) reduced medullary perfusion by 38 ± 11% in fat-fed rabbits and 9 ± 4% in controls. Hypoxia doubled RSNA, increased renal PRA overflow and medullary perfusion, and reduced urine flow and sodium excretion, without significantly altering mean arterial pressure (MAP) or cortical perfusion. These effects were indistinguishable in fat-fed and control rabbits. Neither MAP nor PRA were significantly greater in conscious fat-fed than control rabbits. These observations suggest that mild excess adiposity can augment the antinatriuretic response to renal nerve activation by RNS, possibly through altered neural control of medullary perfusion. Thus, sodium retention in obesity might be driven not only by increased RSNA, but also by increased responsiveness of the kidney to RSNA.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 783-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia Hering ◽  
Masudur Rahman ◽  
Henning Hoch ◽  
Lajos Markó ◽  
Guang Yang ◽  
...  

BackgroundIncreased nerve activity causes hypertension and kidney disease. Recent studies suggest that renal denervation reduces BP in patients with hypertension. Renal NE release is regulated by prejunctional α2A-adrenoceptors on sympathetic nerves, and α2A-adrenoceptors act as autoreceptors by binding endogenous NE to inhibit its own release. However, the role of α2A-adrenoceptors in the pathogenesis of hypertensive kidney disease is unknown.MethodsWe investigated effects of α2A-adrenoceptor–regulated renal NE release on the development of angiotensin II–dependent hypertension and kidney disease. In uninephrectomized wild-type and α2A-adrenoceptor–knockout mice, we induced hypertensive kidney disease by infusing AngII for 28 days.ResultsUrinary NE excretion and BP did not differ between normotensive α2A-adrenoceptor–knockout mice and wild-type mice at baseline. However, NE excretion increased during AngII treatment, with the knockout mice displaying NE levels that were significantly higher than those of wild-type mice. Accordingly, the α2A-adrenoceptor–knockout mice exhibited a systolic BP increase, which was about 40 mm Hg higher than that found in wild-type mice, and more extensive kidney damage. In isolated kidneys, AngII-enhanced renal nerve stimulation induced NE release and pressor responses to a greater extent in kidneys from α2A-adrenoceptor–knockout mice. Activation of specific sodium transporters accompanied the exaggerated hypertensive BP response in α2A-adrenoceptor–deficient kidneys. These effects depend on renal nerves, as demonstrated by reduced severity of AngII-mediated hypertension and improved kidney function observed in α2A-adrenoceptor–knockout mice after renal denervation.ConclusionsOur findings reveal a protective role of prejunctional inhibitory α2A-adrenoceptors in pathophysiologic conditions with an activated renin-angiotensin system, such as hypertensive kidney disease, and support the concept of sympatholytic therapy as a treatment.


1981 ◽  
Vol 240 (1) ◽  
pp. F30-F37
Author(s):  
R. E. Katholi ◽  
S. P. Bishop ◽  
S. Oparil ◽  
T. N. James

Reflex vasoconstriction that occurs in the kidney of the dog can be the result of either of two mechanisms. The first is by activation of the renal sympathetic nerves and the second by reflex activation of catecholamine flow through an adrenorenal rete. Both reflex mechanisms can be activated by transient hypotension caused by experimentally induced atrial fibrillation in the sodium-replete pentobarbital-anesthetized dog. This study was undertaken to measure and compare the magnitude of changes in renal function that occur when these reflex mechanisms are activated and to evaluate the possible role of intrarenal angiotensin II in these two reflex effects. Reflex activation of catecholamine flow through an adrenorenal rete in intact or denervated kidneys produced a 26 +/- 3% decrease in renal plasma flow, a 23 +/- 4% decrease in glomerular filtration rate, a 58 +/- 7% decrease in urinary sodium excretion, and a 4 +/- 1% increase in filtration fraction, but no change in the fractional distribution of intrarenal blood flow. Changes of a similar direction and magnitude were seen in the same animals during reflex activation of the renal sympathetic nerves in the kidneys with intact or ligated adrenorenal rete. The same studies were performed after the intrarenal action of angiotensin II was blocked with [Sar1,Ala8]angiotensin II and similar responses were seen. Both of these reflexes appear to be important mechanisms by which the kidney can maintain vascular volume, and neither depends on intrarenal angiotensin II activity.


1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (8) ◽  
pp. 1067-1072 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodnhy W. Lappe ◽  
David P. Henry ◽  
Lynn R. Willis

Increased activity of the renal sympathetic nerves may result in increased urinary excretion of norepinephrine (NE). In the present study, unilateral electrical stimulation of the renal nerves of the rabbit was employed to test this hypothesis. Stimulation of the renal nerves to one kidney at 2 Hz (group I) produced no significant alteration of plasma NE concentration, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), or NE excretion by either kidney. Stimulation at 4 Hz (group II) caused statistically significant reductions of GFR and urine flow in experimental kidneys, but the urinary excretion of NE, per millilitre GFR, and the CNE/GFR ratios were significantly greater than prestimulation values. In another group of animals (group III), an inhibitor of cation-specific tubular transport, cyanine 863 (6 mg/kg, i.v.), significantly reduced the prestimulation urinary excretion of NE by 60–70% when compared with that of groups I or II. Stimulation of the renal nerves (4 Hz) in the animals of group III caused a significant reduction in GFR in the experimental kidney but did not alter the urinary excretion of NE or the CNE/GFR ratios. The results of these studies indicate that an increase in renal nerve activity causes an increase in the urinary excretion of NE, and that tubular secretion is responsible for the excretion of the neuronally released catecholamine.


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