Specific control of sympathetic nerve activity to the mammalian heart and kidney

CN May; R Frithiof; SG Hood; RM McAllen; MJ McKinley; R Ramchandra

Journal article

Specific control of sympathetic nerve activity to the mammalian heart and kidney

CN May, R Frithiof, SG Hood, RM McAllen, MJ McKinley, R Ramchandra

Experimental Physiology | Published : 2010

DOI: 10.1113/expphysiol.2008.046342

Abstract

There is a large body of evidence indicating that sympathetic nerves to individual organs are specifically controlled, but only few studies have compared the control of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity (CSNA) with activity in other sympathetic nerves. In this review, changes in sympathetic activity to the heart and kidneys are described during increases in brain [Na+] and in heart failure (HF). In conscious sheep, increases in brain [Na+] increased CSNA and arterial pressure and, conversely, decreased renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), promoting urinary sodium loss. These organ-specific effects are mediated via a neural pathway that includes an angiotensinergic synapse, the lamina te..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Clive May Author

Robin McAllen Author

Michael McKinley Author

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Grants

Awarded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Funding Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (232313 and 509204) and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (5-R01-HL-07 4932). R.R. was the recipient of a National Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (PF 07M 32930). C.N.M. (350328), M.J.McK. (454369) and R.M.McA. (277901) were supported by NHMRC Research Fellowships. R.F. was the recipient of a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation. The authors would like to acknowledge the expert technical assistance of Alan McDonald and Tony Dornom.