Role of renal nerves in mediating the hypertensive effects of nitric oxide synthesis inhibition.

Recent studies suggest that enhanced renal sympathetic nervous activity plays an important role in mediating the renal hemodynamic and electrolyte excretion changes associated with acute inhibition of NO synthesis. The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of renal nerves in mediating the long-term hypertensive and renal actions of NO synthesis blockade. To achieve this goal, we infused N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) at a rate of 25 microg/kg per minute for 2 weeks in control dogs and in bilaterally renal-denervated dogs. NO synthesis blockade in control dogs increased arterial pressure by 18%, from 94 +/- 3 to 111 +/- 4 mm Hg, and decreased heart rate from 74 +/- 4 to 57 +/- 4 beats per minute (bpm). L-NAME also decreased renal plasma flow from 195 +/- 18 to 166 +/- 18 mL/min while having no effect on glomerular filtration rate (67 +/- 7 versus 63 +/- 6 mL/min). In the renal-denervated dogs, inhibition of NO synthesis increased arterial pressure by 14%, from 92 +/- 4 to 105 +/- 5 mm Hg, and decreased heart rate from 80 +/- 4 to 65 +/- 5 bpm. Renal plasma flow in this group decreased from 195 +/- 20 to 165 +/- 20 mL/min, whereas glomerular filtration rate remained unchanged (66+/- 6 versus 64 +/- 6 mL/min). In addition, renal excretion of sodium and water in response to L-NAME was similar in each group. The results of this study indicate that the long-term hypertensive and renal effects of NO synthesis inhibition in the dog are not dependent on activation of the renal sympathetic nervous system.