Role of renal nerves in maintaining sodium balance in unrestrained conscious rats.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of bilateral renal denervation on sodium and water balance, the renin-angiotensin system, and systemic blood pressure in unrestrained conscious rats maintained on a normal- or low-sodium diet. Renal denervation was proven by chemical and functional tests. Both bilaterally denervated rats (n = 18) and sham-denervated rats (n = 15) maintained positive sodium balance while on a normal sodium intake. Both groups were in negative sodium balance for 1 day after dietary sodium restriction was instituted but were in positive sodium balance for the following 9 days. Systolic blood pressure was higher in sham-denervated (115 +/- 3 mmHg) than in denervated rats (102 +/- 3 mmHg) while on a normal diet (P less than 0.05) and remained so during sodium restriction. Plasma renin concentration (PRC) and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) were significantly diminished in the denervated rats during normal sodium intake (P less than 0.05). After dietary sodium restriction, PRC increased in both groups but remained significantly lower in the denervated rats (P less than 0.05). Following dietary sodium restriction, PAC also increased significantly to levels that were similar in both groups of rats. These results demonstrate that awake unrestrained growing rats can maintain positive sodium balance on a low sodium intake even in the absence of the renal nerves. However, efferent renal nerve activity influenced plasma renin activity in these animals.