Cardiac Volume Receptor Reflex in Borderline Hypertensive Rats

With increased dietary NaCl intake (8 % NaCl), borderline hypertensive rats (BHR) develop hypertension and exhibit an exaggerated natriuresis in response to intravenous isotonic saline volume expansion. The exaggerated natriuresis is mediated by the concurrent exaggerated withdrawal of efferent renal sympa-thetic nerve activity since prior renal denervation eliminates the exaggerated natriuretic response. It was the objective of the present study to examine cardiac volume receptor reflex control of efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity in BHR made hypertensive by increased dietary NaCl intake. BHR were fe