In Renovascular Hypertension, TNF‐α Type‐1 Receptors in the Area Postrema Mediate Increases in Cardiac and Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity and Blood Pressure

Abstract

Neuroinflammation is a common feature in renovascular, obesity‐related, and angiotensin II mediated hypertension. There is evidence that increased release of the pro‐inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) contributes to the development of the hypertension, but the underlying neural mechanisms are unclear. In rats with renovascular hypertension, area postrema neurons that expressed TNF‐α type‐1 receptor (TNFR1) remained constantly activated (expressed c‐Fos) and injection of TNFR1 neutralizing antibody into the area postrema returned blood pressure (systolic: ~151 mmHg) to normotensive levels (systolic: ~108 mmHg). Nanoinjection of TNF‐α (100 pg/50 nl) into the area postrema o..