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Biomedical subjects

Simon C Malpas

Publications and source records attributed to Simon C Malpas.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Role of renal sympathetic nerve activity in hypertension induced by chronic nitric oxide inhibition.

Nitric oxide levels are diminished in hypertensive patients, suggesting nitric oxide might have an important role to play in the development of hypertension. Chronic blockade of nitric oxide leads to hypertension that is sustained throughout the period of the blockade in baroreceptor-intact animals. It has been suggested that the sympathetic nervous system is involved in the chronic increase in blood pressure; however, the evidence is inconclusive. We measured renal sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure via telemetry in rabbits over 7 days of nitric oxide blockade. Nitric oxide blockade via N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) in the drinking water (50 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1)) for 7 days caused a significant increase in arterial pressure (7 +/- 1 mmHg above control levels; P < 0.05). While the increase in blood pressure was associated with a decrease in heart rate (from 233 +/- 6 beats/min before the L-NAME to 202 +/- 6 beats/min on day 7), there was no change in renal sympathetic nerve activity (94 +/- 4 %baseline levels on day 2 and 96 +/- 5 %baseline levels on day 7 of L-NAME; baseline nerve activity levels were normalized to the maximum 2 s of nerve activity evoked by nasopharyngeal stimulation). The lack of change in renal sympathetic nerve activity during the L-NAME-induced hypertension indicates that the renal nerves do not mediate the increase in blood pressure in conscious rabbits.

Animals↗

Novel technology for the provision of power to implantable physiological devices.

We report the development of a novel technology that enables the wireless transmission of sufficient amounts of power to implantable physiological devices. The system involves a primary unit generating the magnetic field and a secondary pickup unit deriving power from the magnetic field and a power conditioner. The inductively coupled system was able to supply a minimum of 20 mW at all locations and pickup orientations across a rat cage, although much higher power of up to 10 W could be achieved. We hypothesized that it would be possible to use this technology to record a high-fidelity ECG signal in a conscious rat. A device was constructed in which power was utilized to recharge a battery contained within a telemetry device recording ECG signal sampled at 2,000 Hz in conscious rats (200-350 g) living in their home cage. Attributes of the ECG signal (QT, QRS, and PR interval) could be obtained with a high degree of accuracy (<1 ms). ECG and heart rate changes in response to treatment with the beta blocker propranolol and the proarrhythmic alkaloid aconitine were measured. Transmitters were implanted for up to 4 mo, and the characteristic circadian variation in heart rate was recorded. Such technology allows potentially lifetime monitoring without the need for implant refurbishment. The ability to provide suitable power levels to implanted devices without concern to the orientation of the device and without causing heating provides the basis for the development of new devices to record or influence physiological signals in animals or humans over significantly longer time periods than can currently be accommodated.

Animals↗

Baroreflex mechanisms regulating mean level of SNA differ from those regulating the timing and entrainment of the sympathetic discharges in rabbits.

The arterial baroreflex pathway provides the fundamental basis for the short-term control of blood pressure via the rapid regulation of the mean level of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in response to changes in blood pressure. A central tenet in the generation and regulation of bursts of SNA is that input from the arterial baroreceptors also regulates the timing of the bursts of sympathetic activity. With the use of an implantable telemetry-based amplifier, renal SNA was recorded in intact and arterial baroreceptor-denervated (SAD) conscious rabbits. Data were collected continuously while animals were in their home cage. Mean levels of SNA were not different between SAD and baroreceptor-intact animals. Whereas SNA was unresponsive to changes in blood pressure in SAD rabbits, the timing of the bursts of SNA relative to the arterial pulse wave was maintained (time between the diastolic pressure and the next maximum SNA voltage averaged 107+/-12 ms SAD vs. 105+/-7 ms intact). Transfer function analysis between blood pressure and SNA indicates the average gain at the heart rate frequency was not altered by SAD, indicating strong coupling between the cardiac cycle and SNA bursts in SAD animals. Further experiments in anesthetized rabbits showed that this entrainment is lost immediately after performing baroreceptor denervation surgery and remained absent while the animal was under anesthesia but returned within 20 min of turning off the anesthesia. We propose that this finding indicates the regulation of the mean level of SNA requires the majority of input from baroreceptors to be functional; however, the regulation of the timing of the bursts in the conscious animal requires only minimal input, such as a sensitive trigger mechanism. This observation has important implications for understanding the origin and regulation of SNA.

Animals↗

Renal sympathetic nerve activity in the development of hypertension.

With increasing evidence that the sympathetic nervous system plays a critical role in the development of hypertension, focus is turning to how these signals translate to a chronic increase in arterial pressure. The kidney's role in the control of salt and water homeostasis makes it an obvious target for such investigations. However, to date many studies have been restricted to experiments that last only a few hours, or at most, a few days, whereas others may use indirect methods of assessing sympathetic activity rather than direct recordings. We review current approaches used to determine the effects of renal sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) on arterial pressure and suggest possible avenues of future investigation. We propose that although afferent inputs, such those as from chemoreceptors and baroreceptors, are important for the short-term control of blood pressure via regulation of SNA to multiple organs, it is highly likely that alternative signals are important for setting the long-term level of renal SNA. Emerging evidence indicates that circulating angiotensin II is a hormone that may act on the central nervous system to regulate renal SNA, renal function, and, therefore, blood pressure. Future studies on the genesis of hypertension should focus more on determining the mediators of long-term levels of renal SNA.

Angiotensin II↗

Evidence of differential control of renal and lumbar sympathetic nerve activity in conscious rabbits.

We have explored the possibility that renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and vasomotor sympathetic nerve activity are differentially regulated. We measured sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) to the kidney and the hind limb vasculature in seven conscious rabbits 6-8 days after the implantation of recording electrodes. Acute infusion of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (6 mg.kg(-1).min(-1) for 5 min) led to an increase in blood pressure (from 66 +/- 1 to 82 +/- 3 mmHg) and a decrease in heart rate (from 214 +/- 15 to 160 +/- 13 bpm). L-NAME administration caused a significantly greater decrease in RSNA than lumbar sympathetic nerve activity (LSNA) (to 68 +/- 14% vs. 84 +/- 4% of control values, respectively). Volume expansion (1.5 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)) resulted in a significant decrease in RSNA to 66 +/- 7% of control levels but no change in LSNA (127 +/- 20%). There was no difference in the gain of the baroreflex curves between the LSNA and RSNA [maximum gain of -7.6 +/- 0.4 normalized units (nu)/mmHg for LSNA vs. -7.9 +/- 0.75 nu/mmHg for RSNA]. A hypoxic stimulus (10% O2 and 3% CO2) led to identical increases in both RSNA and LSNA (195 +/- 40% and 158 +/- 21% of control values, respectively). Our results indicate tailored differential control of RSNA and LSNA in response to acute stimuli.

Animals↗

Baroreceptor denervation prevents sympathoinhibition during angiotensin II-induced hypertension.

Arterial baroreflexes are well established to provide the basis for short-term control of arterial pressure; however, their role in long-term pressure control is more controversial. We proposed that if the sustained decrease in renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) we observed previously in response to angiotensin II-induced hypertension is baroreflex mediated, then the decrease in RSNA in response to angiotensin II would not occur in sinoaortic-denervated (SAD) animals. Arterial pressure and RSNA were recorded continuously via telemetry in sham and SAD rabbits living in their home cages before, during, and after a 7-day infusion of angiotensin II (50 ng . kg(-1) . min(-1)). The arterial pressure responses in the 2 groups of rabbits were not significantly different (82+/-3 mm Hg sham versus 83+/-3 mm Hg SAD before angiotensin II infusion, and 101+/-6 mm Hg sham versus 100+/-4 mm Hg SAD day 6 of angiotensin II). In sham rabbits, there was a significant sustained decrease in RSNA (53+/-7% of baseline on day 2 and 65+/-7% on day 6 of the angiotensin II). On ceasing the angiotensin II, all variables recovered to baseline. In contrast, RSNA did not change in SAD rabbits with the angiotensin II infusion (RSNA was 98+/-8% of baseline on day 2 and 98+/-8% on day 6 of the angiotensin II infusion). These results support our hypothesis that the reduction in RSNA in response to a pressor dose of angiotensin II is dependent on an intact arterial baroreflex pathway.

Angiotensin II↗

Problems, possibilities, and pitfalls in studying the arterial baroreflexes' influence over long-term control of blood pressure.

While there is no disputing the critical role of baroreflexes in buffering rapid changes in arterial pressure, their role in long-term pressure control has become an area of controversy. Recent experiments using novel techniques have challenged the traditional view that arterial baroreflexes are not involved in setting chronic arterial pressure levels. Resetting of the arterial baroreflex, often used as an argument against the arterial baroreflex playing a role in long-term pressure control is rarely complete. The arterial baroreflex is just one of the many neural, hormonal, and intrinsic mechanisms involved in arterial pressure control and while the removal of the arterial baroreflex alone has little effect on mean arterial pressure it is too simplistic to suggest that the baroreflex has no role in long-term pressure control. Renal sympathetic nerve activity appears to be particularly resistant to resetting in response to ANG II-induced hypertension. Given the important role of the kidneys in long-term pressure control, we suggest there is a clear need to develop experimental techniques whereby sympathetic nerve activity to the kidneys and other organs can be monitored over periods of weeks to months.

Angiotensin II↗

Prostaglandins and nitric oxide in regional kidney blood flow responses to renal nerve stimulation.

We examined the roles of cyclooxygenase products and of interactions between the cyclooxygenase and nitric oxide systems in the mechanisms underlying the relative insensitivity of medullary perfusion to renal nerve stimulation (RNS) in anaesthetized rabbits. To this end we examined the effects of ibuprofen and N(G)-nitro-L: -arginine (L-NNA), both alone and in combination, on the responses of regional kidney perfusion to RNS. Under control conditions, RNS produced frequency-dependent reductions in total renal blood flow (RBF; -82+/-3% at 6 Hz), cortical laser-Doppler flux (CLDF; -84+/-4% at 6 Hz) and, to a lesser extent, medullary laser-Doppler flux (MLDF; -46+/-7% at 6 Hz). Ibuprofen did not affect these responses significantly, suggesting that cyclooxygenase products have little net role in modulating renal vascular responses to RNS. L-NNA enhanced RBF (P=0.002), CLDF (P=0.03) and MLDF (P=0.03) responses to RNS. As we have shown previously, this effect of L-NNA was particularly prominent for MLDF at RNS frequencies < or = 1.5 Hz. Subsequent administration of ibuprofen, in L-NNA-pretreated rabbits, did not affect responses to RNS significantly. We conclude that counter-regulatory actions of NO, but not of prostaglandins, partly underlie the relative insensitivity of medullary perfusion to renal nerve activation.

Animals↗

What sets the long-term level of sympathetic nerve activity: is there a role for arterial baroreceptors?

Much of our knowledge of the influence of the sympathetic nervous system on the control of blood pressure is built on experimental approaches that focus very much on time scales <24 h. Although direct recordings of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) over short time scales provide important information, it is difficult to place their relevance over the longer term where the development of chronic changes in blood pressure are likely to be a mixture of hormonal, renal, and neural influences. Recently new experimental approaches are now revealing a possible role for arterial baroreceptors in the chronic regulation of SNA. These studies reveal that chronic increases in blood pressure are associated with chronic changes in SNA that may be due to nonresetting of the blood pressure-SNA baroreflex relationship. This review discusses the implications of such information, highlighting new technologies for long-term recording of SNA that appear to hold much promise for revealing the role of SNA to the kidney for the long-term control of blood pressure.

Angiotensins↗

Chronic blockade of nitric oxide does not produce hypertension in baroreceptor denervated rabbits.

Although the vascular action of endothelium-derived nitric oxide in modulating arterial pressure is well established, nitric oxide can also act as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. In addition, there is evidence for an interaction between nitric oxide and baroreceptor afferent processing; thus, nitric oxide may regulate blood pressure through central modulation of arterial baroreflexes. To test this possible interaction of nitric oxide and baroreflexes in the long-term regulation of blood pressure, we measured arterial pressure and heart rate responses to nitric oxide blockade by using L-NAME (50 mg/kg per day in drinking water) over 7 days in baroreceptor intact and sinoaortic denervated conscious rabbits. In the baroreceptor intact animals, blockade of nitric oxide leads to a significant increase in mean arterial pressure (from 75+/-2 to 84+/-3 mm Hg) and decrease in heart rate (from 233+/-8 to 195+/-8 bpm) that was sustained over the 7 days of nitric oxide blockade. In the sinoaortic denervated animals, blockade of nitric oxide initially led to a similar increase in arterial pressure (82+/-3 mm Hg on the second day), but in all sinoaortic denervated animals this increase was not sustained and recovered back to pre-L-NAME levels. This finding indicates that baroreflexes play an important role in the long-term control of blood pressure, and, second, that one mediator of this control is nitric oxide.

Animals↗

Nitric oxide in responses of regional kidney perfusion to renal nerve stimulation and renal ischaemia.

The mechanisms underlying the relative insensitivity of medullary blood flow (MBF) to sympathetic drive remain unknown. We tested the effects of nitric oxide synthase blockade on regional kidney perfusion responses to electrical renal nerve stimulation (RNS) in pentobarbitone-anaesthetized rabbits. Under control conditions, RNS reduced renal blood flow (RBF), cortical blood flow (CBF) and MBF in a frequency-dependent manner. MBF was always reduced less than CBF or RBF. NG-nitro-L-arginine increased mean arterial pressure (31+/-3 mmHg), reduced RBF (-8+/-1 ml/min) and MBF (-33+/-6 units), enhanced responses to RNS of RBF (from -48+/-6% to -58+/-6% at 2 Hz), CBF (from -38+/-6% to -43+/-4% at 2 Hz) and, particularly at low frequencies, MBF (from +1+/-18% to -32+/-11% at 2 Hz) and potentiated the RBF hyperaemic response following RNS (by 27+/-6% at 4 Hz). When glyceryl trinitrate was co-infused with NG-nitro-L-arginine to restore basal nitrergic tone, responses to RNS and the subsequent hyperaemia were indistinguishable from control. Since resting renovascular tone or perfusion pressure has little impact on MBF responses to RNS, these present observations suggest that NO contributes to the blunted MBF response to RNS. Paradoxically, NO seems to blunt renal hyperaemia following acute RNS-induced ischaemia.

Animals↗

What sets the long-term level of renal sympathetic nerve activity: a role for angiotensin II and baroreflexes?

Increasing evidence suggests elevated sympathetic outflow may be important in the genesis of hypertension. It is thought that peripheral angiotensin II, in addition to its pressor actions, may act centrally to increase sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). Without direct long-term recordings of SNA, testing the involvement of neural mechanisms in angiotensin II-induced increases in arterial pressure is difficult. Using a novel telemetry-based implantable amplifier, we made continuous recordings of renal SNA (RSNA) before, during, and after 1 week of angiotensin II-based hypertension in rabbits living in their home cages. Angiotensin II infusion (50 ng x kg(-1) x min(-1)) caused a sustained increase in arterial pressure (18+/-3 mm Hg). There was a sustained decrease in RSNA from 18+/-2 normalized units (n.u.) before angiotensin II to 8+/-2 n.u. on day 2 and 9+/-2 n.u. on day 7 of the angiotensin II infusion (P<0.01) before recovering to 17+/-2 n.u. after ceasing angiotensin II. Analysis of the baroreflex response showed that although angiotensin II-induced hypertension led to resetting of the relationship between mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate, there was no evidence of resetting of the MAP-RSNA relationship. We propose that the lack of resetting of the MAP-RSNA curve, with the resting point lying near the lower plateau, suggests the sustained decrease in RSNA during angiotensin II is baroreflex mediated. These results suggest that baroreflex control of RSNA and thus renal function is likely to play a significant role in the control of arterial pressure not only in the short term but also in the long term.

Angiotensin II↗

Role of angiotensin II in the neural control of renal function.

The aim of the present study was to distinguish between the direct effects of the renal nerves on renal function and indirect effects via neurally mediated increased systemic angiotensin II. We applied low-level electrical stimulation (1 Hz) to the left renal nerves in pentobarbitone-anesthetized rabbits for 180 minutes and measured renal blood flow, sodium excretion, and urine flow rate from both the stimulated and the nonstimulated contralateral kidney in the presence and the absence of ACE inhibition (enalaprilat). Stimulation resulted in an angiotensin II-mediated rise in arterial pressure and decreases in renal blood flow, urine flow rate, and sodium excretion on the stimulated side. On the nonstimulated denervated side, we found no change in renal blood flow, but found a decrease in urine flow rate. With ACE inhibition, renal stimulation no longer caused an increase in arterial pressure, the antidiuretic responses of the stimulated kidney were attenuated, and, importantly, the decrease in urine flow rate on the nonstimulated kidney was completely abolished. We therefore propose that although a direct effect of the renal nerves on sodium excretion is clearly present, the antidiuresis and antinatriuresis observed during renal activation is further supported by a neurally mediated increase in systemic angiotensin II.

Angiotensin II↗

Interactions between neural and hormonal mediators of renal vascular tone in anaesthetized rabbits.

We investigated how sympathetic nerve activity and vasoactive hormones interact in controlling renal haemodynamics in pentobarbitone-anaesthetized rabbits. Renal blood flow was progressively reduced by electrical stimulation (0.5-3 Hz) of the renal nerves, during renal arterial infusion of saline, vasoconstrictors (angiotensin II and [Phe2,Ile3,Orn8]-vasopressin), or vasodilators (acetylcholine, adrenomedullin and the nitric oxide donor methylamine hexamethylene NONOate (MAHMA NONOate). A frequency-rich stimulus was also applied to test whether the vasoactive agents affect the dynamic control of renal blood flow by sympathetic nerve activity. The vasodilators tended to increase renal blood flow, but only the effect of MAHMA NONOate was statistically significant. [Phe2,Ile3,Orn8]-vasopressin reduced medullary perfusion (by 61 +/- 12 %) but not renal blood flow or cortical perfusion. Angiotensin II reduced renal blood flow (33 +/- 3 %) and cortical perfusion (14 +/- 5 %) but not medullary perfusion. Steady-state responses of renal blood flow and cortical perfusion during renal nerve stimulation were attenuated during infusion of acetylcholine and [Phe2,Ile3,Orn8]-vasopressin, while angiotensin II attenuated responses of medullary perfusion, and MAHMA NONOate and adrenomedullin had no significant effects. The dynamic response to sympathetic nerve activity (renal blood flow responded as a low pass filter with a pure time delay of ~664 ms) was not altered by the vasoactive agents. We conclude that some vasoactive agents can modulate steady-state renal haemodynamic responses to sympathetic nerve activity in a regionally specific manner, independent of their effects on baseline renovascular tone. However, they have little impact on the dynamic response of renal blood flow to sympathetic nerve activity.

Acetylcholine↗

Neural control of the renal vasculature in angiotensin II-induced hypertension.

1. Chronic administration of angiotensin (Ang) II causes an increase in blood pressure via a multitude of actions, including direct vasoconstriction, hypertrophy and increased sympathetic nerve activity. In the present study, we assessed whether the hypertension resulting from chronic Ang II alters the ability of the renal vasculature to respond to sympathetic activity. 2. Angiotensin II was administered for 7 weeks via an osmotic minipump at a dose of 50 ng/kg per min, i.v., to a group of six rabbits. Blood pressure, measured at 0, 1, 2 and 6 weeks after insertion of the pump, increased from 76 +/- 2 to 104 +/- 6 mmHg at the end of 6 weeks, without any significant change in heart rate. The blood pressure in the control group remained constant at 76 +/- 2 mmHg. 3. After 7 weeks, rabbits were anaesthetized and the renal nerves were stimulated at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 5 or 8 Hz for 3 min at their supramaximal voltage (5.5 +/- 1.0 V in the normotensive group and 6.5 +/- 1.5 V in the hypertensive group) while the renal blood flow (RBF) response was recorded. Under anaesthesia, there was no difference in mean arterial pressure between the normotensive and hypertensive animals (77 +/- 2 and 80 +/- 7 mmHg, respectively). The resting RBF under these conditions was not significantly different in the hypertensive group (30 +/- 4 vs 26 +/- 5 mL/min in the normotensive vs hypertensive group, respectively). 4. Stimulation at increasing frequencies was associated with increasing reductions in RBF (e.g. 36 +/- 8% at 2 Hz in normotensive rabbits and 48 +/- 7% at 2 Hz in hypertensive rabbits). However, there were no significant differences between RBF responses in normotensive and hypertensive rabbits. 5. We conclude that hypertension associated with chronic Ang II administration does not alter the response in RBF to electrical stimulation of the nerves.

Angiotensin II↗

A real-time algorithm for the quantification of blood pressure waveforms.

A real-time algorithm for quantification of biological oscillatory signals, such as arterial blood pressure (BP) is proposed which does not require user intervention and works on waveforms complicated by rapid changes in the mean level, frequency, or by the presence of arrhythmia. The algorithm is based on the continous independent assessment of the refractory period (RP). In the first stage, a sample of the signal is band-pass filtered. During the next stage: 1) the local maxima in the filtered signal are identified and their pulse amplitudes (PA) measured on the side opposite to the possible notch position and 2) those maxima whose PA exceeds some threshold are selected and an array of RP values is formed as a fraction of the moving estimate of the interval between successive selected peaks. Finally, the original signal is analyzed by means of two moving averages (MAs) with short and long averaging time intervals. The true peaks are determined as the maxima between intersections of MAs if the peak-to-peak or the intersection-to-intersection intervals since the previous peak and the previous intersection exceed the RP. The algorithm proved to be superior against three commercially available heartbeat detectors yielding an error rate of 0.09%.

Algorithms↗

Neural influences on cardiovascular variability: possibilities and pitfalls.

Altered variability in the cardiovascular system is associated with a range of cardiovascular diseases and increased mortality. Because blood pressure and heart rate show distinct low-frequency oscillations that appear to be affected by either vagal or sympathetic activity, it has been hoped that measurement of the strength of these oscillations could be used as an index of autonomic tone and thus form the basis of a diagnostic test. This review focuses on recent research that has examined the fundamental origin of variability associated with respiration and a slow oscillation at 0.1 Hz in the human. A new hypothesis is proposed to account for the slow oscillation in heart rate and blood pressure that incorporates components of the central nervous system, other reflex pathways regulating sympathetic activity, and resonance in the baroreflex control of blood pressure. Whereas it is clear that sympathetic activity and arterial baroreflexes are critical elements in producing cardiovascular variability, there is also evidence that other factors, including the ability of the vasculature to respond to sympathetic activity, appear to play a role in determining the strength of oscillations. Given the potential impact of other nonbaroreflex or nonautonomic pathways in affecting cardiovascular variability, it is proposed that one must use care in relating changes in the strength of an oscillation in blood pressure and heart rate as definitively due to a change in autonomic control.

Animals↗

Regional responsiveness of renal perfusion to activation of the renal nerves.

We tested for regional differences in perfusion responses, within the renal medulla and cortex, to renal nerve stimulation in pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized rabbits. Laser-Doppler flux (LDF) was monitored at various depths below the cortical surface (1-15 mm). Basal cortical LDF (1-3 mm, approximately 200-450 U) was greater than medullary LDF (5-15 mm, approximately 70-160 U), but there were no statistically significant differences in basal LDF within these regions. The background LDF signal during aortic occlusion was similar in the cortex (2 mm, 31 U) and outer medulla (7 mm, 31 U), but slightly greater in the inner medulla (12 mm, 44 U). During electrical stimulation of the renal nerves (0.5-8 Hz), cortical LDF and total renal blood flow were similarly progressively reduced with increasing stimulus frequency. Medullary LDF (measured between 5 and 15 mm) was overall less responsive than cortical LDF. For example, 4-Hz stimulation reduced inner medullary LDF (9 mm) by 19 +/- 6% but reduced cortical LDF (1 mm) by 54 +/- 11%. However, medullary LDF responses to nerve stimulation were similar at all depths measured. Our results indicate that while the vascular elements controlling medullary perfusion are less sensitive to the effects of electrical stimulation of the renal nerves than are those controlling cortical perfusion, sensitivity within these vascular territories appears to be relatively homogeneous.

Animals↗