Renal nerves promote sodium excretion during long-term increases in salt intake.

To determine whether the renal nerves contribute to sodium homeostasis during long-term increments in sodium intake, studies were conducted in conscious dogs subjected to unilateral renal denervation and surgical division of the urinary bladder into hemibladders to allow separate 24-hour urine collection from denervated and innervated kidneys. They were fed a low sodium diet and continuously infused with isotonic saline (350 mL/d) to provide a daily sodium intake of approximately 60 mmol. After control measurements, sodium intake was increased to 470 mmol/d by increasing the rate of isotonic saline infusion to 3000 mL/d for 5 days; this was followed by a 5-day recovery period. Twenty-four-hour control values for mean arterial pressure and ratios for urinary sodium, potassium, and creatinine excretion from denervated and innervated kidneys (DEN/INN) were 96+/-3, 1.06+/-0.04, 1.00+/-0.04, and 1.01+/-0.02 mm Hg, respectively. During the approximately 8-fold increase in sodium intake, there was no long-term change in mean arterial pressure, and daily sodium balance was achieved within 48 hours. Moreover, during the first day of high salt intake, there were significant reductions in the DEN/INN for sodium and potassium excretion, which persisted for the entire 5-day period of increased sodium intake; on day 5, the DEN/INN for sodium and potassium excretion was 0.86+/-0.03 and 0.86+/-0.04, respectively. In contrast, the DEN/INN for creatinine excretion remained at control levels during high salt intake. Furthermore, similar long-term reductions in the DEN/INN for sodium and potassium excretion occurred in a second group of dogs administered adrenergic receptor-blocking agents for 5 days to interrupt the functional effects of the renal nerves. These data indicate that sustained renal sympathoinhibition promotes sodium and potassium excretion during long-term increments in sodium intake by inhibiting tubular reabsorption of these electrolytes.