A transfer function method for the continuous assessment of baroreflex control of renal sympathetic nerve activity in rats

Abstract

The present study examined whether the gain of the transfer function relating cardiac-related rhythm of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) to arterial pressure (AP) pulse might serve as a spontaneous index of sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). AP and RSNA were simultaneously recorded in conscious rats, either baroreceptor-intact (control, n = 11) or with partial denervation of baroreflex afferents [aortic baroreceptor denervated (ABD; n = 10)] during 1-h periods of spontaneous activity. Transfer gain was calculated over 58 adjacent 61.4-s periods (segmented into 10.2-s periods). Coherence between AP and RSNA was statistically ( P < 0.05) significant in 90 ± 3% and 56 ± 10% of cases in control and ABD rats, respectively. Transfer gain was higher ( P = 0.0049) in control [2.39 ± 0.13 normalized units (NU)/mmHg] than in ABD (1.48 ± 0.22 NU/mmHg) rats. In the pooled study sample, transfer gain correlated with sympathetic BRS estimated by the vasoactive drug injection technique ( R = 0.75; P < 0.0001) and was inversely related to both time- (standard deviation; R = −0.74; P = 0.0001) and frequency-domain [total spectral power (0.00028–2.5 Hz); R = −0.82; P < 0.0001] indices of AP variability. In control rats, transfer gain exhibited large fluctuations (coefficient of variation: 34 ± 3%) that were not consistently related to changes in the mean level of AP, heart rate, or RSNA. In conclusion, the transfer function method provides a continuous, functionally relevant index of sympathetic BRS and reveals that the latter fluctuates widely over time.