Effector loci for renal nerve control of cortical microcirculation.

To determine the effector loci for renal neural vasomotor control, we performed micropuncture measurements before or after renal nerve stimulation and during low- (0.5-1.5 Hz) (LFS) or high- (3-5 Hz) (HFS) frequency nerve stimulation in Munich-Wistar rats. In response to HFS, single nephron glomerular filtration rate decreased on average from 24.1 +/- 4.1 to 10.4 +/- 2.3 nl/min. Although mean glomerular transcapillary hydraulic pressure difference remained essentially constant, HFS led to a marked fall in glomerular plasma flow rate (71.3 +/- 0.9 to 44.1 +/- 10.4 nl/min). The latter was associated with significant increase in both afferent (RA) and efferent (RE) arteriolar resistance, on average by more than twofold. Because of this profound arteriolar constriction, early peritubular capillary hydraulic pressure (PEA) fell markedly during HFS (mean: 19.1 +/- 1.4 vs. 13.2 +/- 1.4 mmHg). The ultrafiltration coefficient (Kf) also decreased significantly, on average from 0.055 +/- 0.014 to 0.015 +/- 0.002 nl/(s . mmHg) with HFS. By contrast, LFS affected these indices to a much lesser and more variable degree although the marked decline in PEA was again demonstrated. Despite this decrease in postglomerular capillary hydraulic pressure, absolute proximal tubule fluid reabsorption (APR) failed to change in some animals and decreased slightly in others. Analysis of the Starling forces acting across the peritubular capillaries showed that due largely to a uniform decrease in mean peritubular capillary hydraulic pressure, mean net reabsorption pressure (Pr) rose substantially and significantly, on average by more than 5 mmHg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)