Importance of Central Catecholaminergic Neurones in the Development and Maintenance of Renal Hypertension

Abstract

1. Depletion of brain catecholamines by injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OH D) into the cisterna magna in rabbits significantly diminished the rise in arterial pressure following the wrapping of both kidneys in cellophane, 6-OHD treated animals having a mean arterial pressure of 100 mmHg at 6 weeks after wrapping, compared with 122 mmHg in control animals. 2. In rabbits with established cellophane perinephritis hypertension, intracisternal 6-OHD significantly lowered the arterial pressure from 124 to 103 mmHg. 3. The pressor response to intraventricular angiotensin (100 ng) was decreased in normotensive rabbits pretreated with intracisternal 6-OHD from a pressure rise of 20 mmHg in 1 min to 10 mmHg in 1 min.