Role of hepatic nerves in long-term control of NaCl homeostasis in Wistar-Kyoto rats.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of hepatic denervation (HD) on NaCl balance and arterial blood pressure in conscious Wistar-Kyoto rats maintained on normal or high-NaCl food. When rats were fed normal NaCl food (0.45% NaCl), HD had no significant effect on NaCl balance and arterial pressure. However, when rats were fed high-NaCl food (8% NaCl for 10 days), NaCl balance became more positive in HD rats than in sham rats. Furthermore, mean arterial pressure in HD rats (120 +/- 2 mmHg) was higher than that in sham rats (108 +/- 3 mmHg). These results indicate that the hepatic nerves play a significant role in the long-term control of NaCl balance and arterial pressure during high-NaCl food intake.