Cyclic intermittent hypoxia enhances renal sympathetic response to ICV ET-1 in conscious rats

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that central changes in sympathoregulation might contribute to sympathoexcitation after cyclic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) we exposed male Sprague-Dawley rats to CIH or to room air sham (Sham) for 8h/d for 3 weeks. After completion of the exposure we assessed heart rate, mean arterial pressure and renal sympathetic nerve activity in conscious animals before and after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of endothelin-1 (ET-1, 3 pmol). CIH-exposed animals had a significantly greater sympathetic response to ET-1 than did Sham-exposed animals (CIH 137.8+/-15.6% of baseline; Sham 112.2+/-10.0% of baseline; CIH vs. Sham

ADInstruments products used

Blood Pressure