Role of Sensory Renal Nerves in the Development of Spontaneous Hypertension in Rats

Abstract

In order to study the role of afferent renal nerves in the development of spontaneous hypertension, 3-4 weeks old uninephrectomized spontaneously hypertensive rats were deafferented selectively by a unilateral dorsal rhizotomy. Control rats were sham-operated. Until 10 weeks of age, systolic tail cuff blood pressures were identical in both groups. Although from 12 weeks on systolic blood pressure was slightly (10%) but significantly lower in deafferented rats, mean arterial pressures from an indwelling catheter were identical in deafferented and control rats. We therefore conclude that a selective destruction of afferent renal nerves does not delay or prevent the development of spontaneous hypertension in rats.

Key Words:

• afferent renal nerves
• renal denervation
• SHR