AJP - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, Vol 247, Issue 4 576-H583, Copyright © 1984 by American Physiological Society
Effects of afferent renal nerve stimulation on renal hemodynamic and excretory functions
A. Stella, R. Golin, I. Busnardo and A. Zanchetti
In anesthetized cats (n = 9) renal afferent fibers were electrically
stimulated for 11 min, and the response of the contralateral innervated
kidney was compared with that of the ipsilateral denervated one. Before
stimulation, renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate, and water and
sodium excretions were significantly lower in the innervated kidney than in
the denervated one. Afferent renal nerve stimulation augmented arterial
pressure and also increased sodium and water excretions from both kidneys
without concomitant changes in glomerular filtration rates and renal blood
flows. Absolute and percent changes in sodium and water excretions from the
innervated kidney were similar to those observed in the denervated one. The
same results were obtained in cats (n = 4) which underwent bilateral
adrenalectomy to avoid the effect of circulating catecholamines. In another
group of cats (n = 5), the increase in renal perfusion pressure due to the
stimulation was prevented by an aortic snare: this resulted in a slight but
equal decrease of all variables in both kidneys. These experiments do not
show a reflex control of renal function from renal afferents.
