Recovery of baroreflex control of renal sympathetic nerve activity after spinal lesions in the rat

摘要: Spinal cord injury (SCI) has serious long-term consequences on sympathetic cardiovascular regulation. Orthostatic intolerance results from insufficient baroreflex regulation (BR) of outflow to maintain proper blood pressure upon postural changes. Autonomic dysreflexia occurs due inhibition spinal sources activity. Both these conditions result the inability control activity caudal SCI. It is well established that limited motor ability recovers after incomplete Therefore, goal this study was determine whether recovery BR chronic, left thoracic hemisection at either T3 or T8. Baroreflex tests were performed in rats by measuring reflex response (ipsilateral) renal nerve decreases and increases arterial produced ramped infusions sodium nitroprusside phenylephrine, respectively. One week a hemisection, function modestly impaired. However, 8 wk normal. T8 significantly impaired, improved. These indicate may partially recover hemisections, becoming normal lesion, but not lesion. The nature and/or brain stem reorganization mediates remains be determined.