Dietary Na, age, and baroreflex control of heart rate and renal sympathetic nerve activity in rats.

Heart rate (HR) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) responses to ramp changes in blood pressure (BP) by (de)pressor agents and to acute volume expansion were recorded in conscious young, mature, and old Wistar rats maintained for 4 wk on diets containing low, control, or high dietary Na. Both HR and RSNA responses to BP increases or decreases were attenuated on low-Na diet compared with control Na diet. On high-Na diet, HR responses to BP changes and RSNA responses to BP increases were also attenuated, but in contrast the excitatory response of RSNA to BP decreases was augmented. The inhibitory RSNA response, but not the HR response, to volume expansion was significantly attenuated in young rats on high-Na diet but not on low-Na diet. The effects of both low and high dietary Na on HR and RSNA responses were most marked in young rats, less in mature rats, and even less in old rats. These results indicate a discordance of high dietary Na-induced changes in HR vs. RSNA control by the arterial and cardiopulmonary baroreflex, which is suggestive of central mechanisms affected by dietary Na. The developing nervous system appears to be the most responsive to dietary Na.