Central α2-receptor mechanisms contribute to enhanced renal responses during ketamine-xylazine anesthesia

Abstract

We have recently developed an experimental approach to study central opioid control of renal function in anesthetized rats. This model system uses the intravenous infusion of the α2-agonist xylazine to enhance basal levels of urine flow rate and urinary sodium excretion in ketamine-anesthetized rats. This study examined the contribution of central and peripheral α2-adrenergic receptor mechanisms in mediating the enhanced renal excretory responses produced by xylazine. In ketamine-anesthetized rats, the enhanced levels of urine flow rate and urinary sodium excretion produced by the intravenous infusion of xylazine were reversed by the intravenous bolus injection of the α2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine but not by the α1-adrenoceptor antagonist terazosin. In separate animals the intracerebroventricular administration of yohimbine only reduced urine flow rate by ∼50% but did not alter urinary sodium excretion. The decrease in urine flow rate produced by intracerebroventricular yohimbine was reversed by the intravenous injection of a selective V2-vasopressin receptor antagonist. In a separate group of ketamine- and xylazine-anesthetized rats, the bilateral microinjection of yohimbine into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) also significantly decreased urine flow rate by 54% without altering urinary sodium excretion. The microinjection of the β-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol into the PVN did not alter either renal excretory parameter. These results suggest that during intravenous infusion, xylazine increases urine flow rate by activating α2-adrenergic receptors in the PVN, which in turn decrease vasopressin release. The ability of α-adrenergic mechanisms in the PVN to selectively influence the renal handling of water, but not sodium, may contribute to the reported dissociation of the natriuretic and diuretic responses of α2-adrenoceptor agonists.