Differential effects of renal denervation on arterial baroreceptor function in Goldblatt hypertension model

Sympathetic vasomotor activity is significantly increased in renovascular hypertension. Renal denervation (DnX) has emerged as a novel therapy for resistant hypertension to drug therapy. However, the underlying mechanisms regarding the reduction in blood pressure (BP) after DnX remain unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of DnX of a clipped kidney on the baseline and baroreceptor reflex control of post-ganglionic sympathetic activity to the contralateral kidney (rSNA) and lumbar (lSNA) nerves in Goldblatt hypertensive rats (2K1C). Renal denervation of an ischaemic kidney (DxX - all visible bundles of nerves were dissected - 10% phenol) was performed 5 weeks after clipping (gap width: 0.2 mm). Ten days after DnX, BP was significantly reduced (16%) in the 2K1C compared with the undenervated 2K1C (p < 0.05). DnX significantly reduced basal rSNA (control group (CT): 110 ± 8, n = 14; 2K1C: 150 ± 8, n = 12; 2K1C DnX: 89 ± 7, spikes per second (spikes/s); p < 0.05, n = 8) and lSNA (CT: 137 ± 8, n = 8; 2K1C: 202 ± 7, n = 11; 2K1C DnX: 131 ± 7, spikes/s; p < 0.05, n = 8) only in 2K1C rats. DnX significantly improved the arterial baroreceptor sensitivity of rSNA (CT: − 2.3 ± 0.2, n = 11; 2K1C: − 0.7 ± 0.1, n = 8; 2K1C DnX: − 1.5 ± 0.2, spikes/s/mm Hg; p < 0.05, n = 5) and heart rate for tachycardic response (CT: − 3.9 ± 0.5, n = 7; 2K1C: − 1.9 ± 0.1, n = 8; 2K1C DnX: − 3.3 ± 0.4, bpm/mm Hg; p < 0.05, n = 8), but not for lSNA in 2K1C rats. The results show that DnX normalized baseline sympathetic vasomotor activity to the lumbar and renal nerves, followed by a differential improvement in the arterial baroreceptor sensitivity. Whether the baroreceptor function sensitivity improvement induced by DnX is a cause or a consequence of BP reduction remains to be determined.