Persistent firing of splenic and renal nerves after acute decentralization but failure to produce ganglionic reflexes.

Experiments were done to evaluate the contribution of peripheral neural circuits to generation of ongoing splenic and renal sympathetic discharge as well as to the reflex alteration of this discharge by chemical stimulation of receptors of intestinal afferent nerves. After decentralization of the celiac and superior mesenteric ganglia, low amplitude spikes with low discharge rates still were observed in both nerves. Stimulation of intestinal receptors with bradykinin or capsaicin did not alter this residual firing. Cholinergic blockade eliminated most of this discharge. The source of the residual firing and its contribution to basal discharge of splenic and renal nerves remains to be determined.