AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 243, Issue 1 119-R124, Copyright © 1982 by American Physiological Society
Increased left atrial pressure does not alter renal function in the conscious primate
K. G. Cornish and J. P. Gilmore
To study the functional role of the atriorenal reflex in the nonhuman
primate, we chronically instrumented six Macaca fascicularis with left
atrial snares and left atrial and aortic catheters. After inserting a
bladder catheter, we determined hemodynamic and renal responses of the
conscious chair-restrained monkey to increased left atrial pressure. In 23
snare experiments, no significant changes in renal or cardiovascular
function were observed even though left atrial pressure increased from 6.5
+/- 3.3 to 16.2 +/- 3.4 mmHg. The animals were subjected also to blood
volume expansion with isoncotic isotonic dextran solutions (+15% of
calculated blood volume). They responded normally to this volume stimulus.
Conscious dogs prepared in the same manner as the nonhuman primate
exhibited diuresis in response to elevations of atrial pressure. We
conclude that left atrial stretch receptors are not importantly involved in
volume homeostasis in the nonhuman primate.
