Respiratory sympathetic modulation is augmented in chronic kidney disease

International audienceRespiratory modulation of sympathetic nerve activity (respSNA) was studied in a hypertensive rodent model of chronic kidney disease (CKD) using Lewis Polycystic Kidney (LPK) rats and Lewis controls. In adult animals under in vivo anaesthetised conditions (n=8-10/strain), respiratory modulation of splanchnic and renal nerve activity was compared under control conditions, and during peripheral (hypoxia), and central, chemoreceptor (hypercapnia) challenge. RespSNA was increased in the LPK vs. Lewis (area under curve (AUC) splanchnic and renal: 8.7±1.1 vs. 3.5±0.5 and 10.6±1.1 vs. 7.1±0.2 µV.s, respectively, P<0.05). Hypoxia and hypercapnia increased respSNA in both strains but the magnitude of the response was greater in LPK, particularly in response to hypoxia. In juvenile animals studied using a working heart brainstem preparation (n=7-10/strain), increased respSNA was evident in the LPK (thoracic SNA, AUC: 0.86±0.1 vs. 0.42±0.1 µV.s, P