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Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 282: R1718-R1729, 2002. First published January 24, 2002; doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00651.2001
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Vol. 282, Issue 6, R1718-R1729, June 2002

Arterial baroreceptors mediate the inhibitory effect of acute increases in arterial blood pressure on thirst

Sean D. Stocker, Edward M. Stricker, and Alan F. Sved

Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260


    ABSTRACT
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

The present study sought to determine whether arterial baroreceptor afferents mediate the inhibitory effect of an acute increase in arterial blood pressure (AP) on thirst stimulated by systemically administered ANG II or by hyperosmolality. Approximately 2 wk after sinoaortic denervation, one of four doses of ANG II (10, 40, 100, or 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1) was infused intravenously in control and complete sinoaortic-denervated (SAD) rats. Complete SAD rats ingested more water than control rats when infused with 40, 100, or 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II. Furthermore, complete SAD rats displayed significantly shorter latencies to drink compared with control rats. In a separate group of rats, drinking behavior was stimulated by increases in plasma osmolality, and mean AP was raised by an infusion of phenylephrine (PE). The infusion of PE significantly reduced water intake and lengthened the latencies to drink in control rats but not in complete SAD rats. In all experiments, drinking behavior of rats that were subjected to sinoaortic denervation surgery but had residual baroreceptor reflex function (partial SAD rats) was similar to that of control rats. Thus it appears that arterial baroreceptor afferents mediate the inhibitory effect of an acute increase in AP on thirst stimulated by ANG II or hyperosmolality.

water intake; angiotensin II; hyperosmolality


    INTRODUCTION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

ACCUMULATING EVIDENCE INDICATES that an acute increase in arterial blood pressure (AP) inhibits thirst. Initial observations by Evered and colleagues (3, 4, 17) demonstrated that cumulative water intakes in rats were greater when the increase in AP evoked by an intravenous infusion of ANG II was prevented by cotreatment with one of three vasodilators [isoproterenol, diazoxide (DZX), or minoxidil]. With each dose of ANG II tested and all three vasodilators used, attenuation of the ANG II-induced increase in AP resulted in a greater cumulative water intake (3, 4, 17). Similar observations have been reported in dogs (13). Recently, we confirmed those findings and also demonstrated that an acute increase in AP inhibits drinking behavior stimulated by hyperosmolality or hypovolemia in rats (21). With all three stimuli for thirst, an acute increase in AP resulted in a reduction of water intake and a longer latency to drink. Furthermore, this inhibitory effect of an increase in AP on thirst appeared to be graded; small increases in AP resulted in small reductions in water intake and longer latencies to drink, whereas large increases in AP resulted in larger reductions in water intake and even longer latencies to drink (21).

The primary way in which the central nervous system detects acute perturbations in AP is through an afferent signal arising from stretch receptors located on the vessel walls of the aortic arch and carotid sinus (arterial baroreceptors). Previous studies attempting to remove arterial baroreceptor afferents have not observed potentiated water intakes evoked by peripherally administered ANG II (10, 16). However, it is not clear whether the baroreceptor afferents of the animals in these studies were completely eliminated, as discussed previously (21). On the other hand, complete elimination of both arterial and cardiopulmonary baroreceptor afferents, by surgical denervation in dogs (11) or electrolytic lesions of the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) in rats (18), results in greater water intake and shorter latency to drink during an intravenous infusion of pressor doses of ANG II. Therefore, the inhibitory effect of an acute increase in AP may be mediated by both cardiopulmonary and arterial baroreceptors. However, because no study has convincingly evaluated the contribution of arterial baroreceptors to the AP-evoked inhibition of thirst stimulated by peripherally administered ANG II, it is unclear whether one or both types of afferents mediate this inhibition. Therefore, we sought to reinvestigate whether complete removal of arterial baroreceptor afferents eliminates the inhibition of drinking behavior resulting from an acute increase in AP.

In the present experiments, sinoaortic-denervated (SAD) rats plus nonsurgical controls were infused intravenously with several doses of ANG II. If arterial baroreceptors mediate the inhibition of drinking behavior during an acute increase in AP, then complete SAD rats should drink sooner and ingest more water compared with weight-matched control rats during an intravenous infusion of pressor doses of ANG II. In addition, we sought to determine whether complete removal of arterial baroreceptor afferents would eliminate the inhibition of thirst observed during increases in AP when drinking behavior was stimulated by hyperosmolality. Thus SAD rats and weight-matched controls were infused with hypertonic saline (HS) to raise plasma osmolality (Posmol), and AP was raised by an infusion of phenylephrine (PE). In all experiments, partial SAD rats also were studied to determine whether drinking responses of these rats were affected by an increase in AP, like control rats.


    METHODS
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Animals. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (Zivic Laboratories, Zelienople, PA) were individually housed in a temperature-controlled room (22-23°C) with a 12:12-h light-dark cycle (lights on at 8:00 AM). Tap water and Purina Laboratory Chow (no. 5001) were available ad libitum except where noted. All experiments began between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. At least 24 h before baroreflex testing, catheters were implanted in the left femoral artery (Silastic or Microrenthane tubing; Braintree Scientific) and vein (PV-3 tubing) using halothane as anesthesia (2-3% in 100% O2). All catheters were tunneled subcutaneously to exit between the scapulae and were filled with heparinized saline (arterial, 1,000 U/ml; venous, 40 U/ml). Rats were fitted with an infusion harness (Harvard Apparatus) that allowed the catheters to pass outside the cage while protected by a steel spring.

At least 1 h before experiments began, rats were weighed and returned to wire mesh cages with urine collection funnels attached to the bottom. Food was removed, and a 50-ml burette containing tap water was placed on the cage except where noted. AP was recorded by connecting the arterial line to a Statham pressure transducer (Grass Instruments, Quincy, MA) and a polygraph chart recorder (model 7; Grass Instruments). The pulsatile AP signal was electronically filtered to obtain mean AP (MAP). Heart rate (HR) was obtained through a tachograph (model 7P44; Grass Instruments) triggered by the pulsatile AP. During drinking experiments, MAP and HR values for each time point were computed as an average of three values taken 10 s apart. Because the act of drinking has been reported to increase MAP and HR (8), MAP and HR values were not taken during a drinking bout, but values were collected at the closest minute to the drinking bout.

Sinoaortic denervation. Approximately 2 wk before baroreflex testing and initiation of drinking experiments, sinoaortic denervation was performed using halothane as anesthesia (2-3% in 100% O2), as described previously (12, 19). Briefly, the superior cervical ganglion was removed, and the superior laryngeal nerve was sectioned at its junction with the vagus nerve. The common carotid artery, carotid bifurcation, and internal and external carotid arteries were stripped of neural and connective tissue and swabbed with 10% phenol in ethanol. After surgery, rats were injected with either hexamethonium (30 mg/kg sc) or atropine (0.1 mg/kg sc) two times daily for 2 days and with antibiotic (Dual-Cillin; 30,000 units im). Because water intake usually decreases after sinoaortic denervation, rats also were given daily injections of isotonic saline (SLN, 15 ml sc) until spontaneous drinking resumed.

Baroreflex testing. The completeness of the sinoaortic denervation was assessed by observing changes in HR in response to intravenous bolus injections of PE (4 µg/kg) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 4 µg/kg), as described previously (19). To verify that cardiac afferents were not affected by these surgical denervations, rats were tested additionally for MAP and HR responses to the 5-HT3 5-hydroxytryptamine agonist phenyl biguanide (PBG; 25 µg/kg iv). All baroreflex testing was performed in awake, freely-moving rats. Each rat was tested at least three times for AP and HR responses to PE, SNP, and PBG, and peak changes in each variable were averaged across trials. A denervation was considered to be complete when the change in HR in response to PE and SNP was 0 beats/min; such rats will be referred to as "complete SAD rats." Rats that underwent these surgical denervations but still had residual baroreceptor reflex function will be referred to as "partial SAD rats." In addition, "control" rats consisted of weight-matched rats that did not undergo sinoaortic denervation surgery. Baseline MAP was calculated as an average of values taken every 20 s for 5 min immediately before baroreflex testing. Lability of MAP was calculated as the standard deviation of the mean.

Effect of sinoaortic denervation on drinking behavior during an infusion of ANG II. After a 20-min baseline recording of MAP and HR, complete SAD (n = 5), partial SAD (n = 5-10), and control (n = 8) rats were infused intravenously with one of four doses of ANG II (10, 40, 100, or 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1; 25 µl/min) for 60 min using an infusion pump (model A-99; Razel). Experiments were performed every other day, and the infusion dose of ANG II was randomized. In initial experiments, two complete SAD rats were tested for drinking responses to only 10 and 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II. The results from these rats were combined with the results from five other complete SAD rats infused with 10, 40, 100, and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II.

Cumulative water intakes (±0.5 ml) were monitored every 15 min during the 60-min test. Latencies from the initiation of the ANG II infusion to the first lick on the water tube also were noted. To assess whether large changes in urinary output might underlie any observed changes in drinking behavior, urine outputs (±0.1 ml) were monitored during the 60-min test and then analyzed for Na+ and K+ concentrations (System E2A Electrolyte Analyzer; Beckman Instruments, Brea, CA).

Effect of intravenous infusions of ANG II on plasma ANG II levels. To determine the plasma ANG II levels resulting from the infusion of ANG II, a separate group of control rats (n = 8) was infused with ANG II (10, 40, 100, and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1; 25 µl/min). In addition, a subset (n = 4) of complete SAD rats used in the above drinking studies was infused with 40 and 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II for determination of plasma ANG II levels. In each animal, blood samples (0.5 ml) were collected from the arterial catheter into microcentrifuge tubes containing 3 mM EDTA (15 µl) and 20 mM 1,10-phenanthroline (45 µl) at baseline and at 3, 15, and 45 min after the initiation of the ANG II infusion. Samples were centrifuged immediately (10,000 g, 1 min), and the plasma was stored at -80°C until ANG II levels were determined by RIA, as described previously (22). In this and subsequent experiments, the first blood sample was replaced with an equal volume of SLN injected intravenously, whereas subsequent samples were replaced with red blood cells from the previous sample resuspended in heparinized saline (40 U/ml).

To compare the plasma ANG II levels resulting from the intravenous infusions of ANG II with plasma ANG II levels associated with other treatments known to stimulate thirst, separate groups of rats received one of several treatments. Some rats were water deprived for 0 (n = 6), 24 (n = 6), or 48 (n = 8) h and then decapitated; trunk blood was collected in microcentrifuge tubes containing 10 mM EDTA and 20 mM 1,10-phenanthroline. Other rats (n = 5), with femoral arterial and venous catheters inserted 2 days previously, were infused with HS (1 M NaCl; 2 ml/h iv) for 60 min. Blood samples (1.5 ml) were collected in microcentrifuge tubes as described above at baseline and 60 min after the onset of the infusion. An additional group of rats with femoral arterial and venous catheters received an injection of the arteriolar vasodilator DZX (25 mg/kg iv; n = 8), and blood samples were collected 30 min later. All samples were centrifuged (10,000 g, 1 min) and stored at -80°C until plasma ANG II levels were determined by RIA.

Effects of sinoaortic denervation on the AP-evoked inhibition of drinking behavior during increases in Posmol. One hour before experiments, food and water were removed from the cages. After a 20-min baseline recording of MAP and HR, rats were infused with HS (1 M NaCl, 2 ml/h) for 2 h. At the end of the 2-h period, the infusions were switched either to PE (4 µg · kg-1 · min-1), to increase AP, or to SLN (1.5 ml/h) for the next 90 min. Control (n = 8), partial SAD (n = 5), and complete SAD (n = 5) rats were subjected to both the PE and SLN protocols separated by 3 days, and the order was randomized.

Water access was allowed 10 min after the onset of the SLN or PE infusions. When the water bottle was returned to the cage, a few drops of water were placed on each rat's snout to make it aware that water was accessible again. Cumulative water intakes (±0.5 ml) were monitored every 15 min, and latencies to drink also were recorded. Urine outputs (±0.1 ml) were monitored before and every 15 min after access to water during the test and later analyzed for Na+ and K+ concentrations as described previously. Additionally, blood samples (0.3 ml) were collected from the arterial line in microcentrifuge tubes containing heparin (10,000 U/ml, 0.2 µl) 10 min before the infusion of 1 M NaCl, just before water access, and 30 and 60 min after water access. Samples were centrifuged immediately (10,000 g, 1 min) and later analyzed for Posmol measured from two 20-µl aliquots by freezing-point depression using a microosmometer (model 3360; Advanced Instruments, Norwood, MA).

Statistical analysis. All data are expressed as means ± SE. Body weight, baseline MAP and lability, and baroreflex responses were analyzed by ANOVA (Systat; SPSS) followed by a Fisher's post hoc test. Baroreflex gain was calculated by dividing the absolute change in HR by the change in MAP.

Water intakes, MAP, and HR were analyzed by a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. Latencies to drink were analyzed similarly, but only rats that drank during the test were used in the analysis. When significant F values were obtained for the group or dose factor, one-way ANOVA was performed at each time followed by a Fisher's or layered Bonferroni post hoc test, respectively. The repeated-measures variable was analyzed by a repeated-measures ANOVA followed by paired t-tests with layered Bonferroni correction to compare each time with baseline values. Urine volume, urinary Na+ and K+ excretion, and Posmol were analyzed similarly.

The percentages of rats that drank during each experiment were compared between treatments and within each group by a Fisher's Exact Test. When water intake or latency to drink was plotted as a function of baroreflex gain, the distribution of complete SAD rats vs. partial SAD or control rats was compared by a Fisher's Exact Test. A horizontal line was drawn just below the lowest water intake or just above the longest latency to drink among the complete SAD rats, and the numbers of rats above and below the line were compared with the numbers of partial SAD or control rats situated similarly. Rats that did not drink were assigned latencies to drink of 60 min for purposes of comparison.

Plasma ANG II levels were log transformed and analyzed by one-way repeated-measures ANOVA followed by appropriate post hoc testing as described above. Plasma ANG II levels in complete SAD rats and control rats infused with 40 and 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II were compared by a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. Plasma ANG II levels associated with experimental models known to induce thirst were compared with baseline values by independent t-tests. These plasma ANG II levels also were compared by independent t-tests with plasma ANG II levels at 15 min after each infusion dose of ANG II.

In all statistical comparisons, a P value <0.05 was considered to be significant.


    RESULTS
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Effect of sinoaortic denervation on drinking behavior during an infusion of ANG II. Baroreflex responses to PE, SNP, and PBG for complete SAD, partial SAD, and control rats are presented in Table 1. Baseline MAP and HR were not different between groups (Table 1; P > 0.8 from overall ANOVAs), and MAP of complete SAD rats was significantly more labile than that of control or partial SAD rats (Table 1), as reported previously (20, 25). By definition, complete SAD rats displayed no change in HR to intravenous bolus injection of PE and SNP. Furthermore, complete SAD rats had a greater change in MAP in response to PE and SNP than control rats did, presumably because of a loss of baroreflex buffering. Partial SAD rats displayed HR changes in response to PE and SNP that were significantly smaller than those in control rats but significantly greater than those in complete SAD rats (Table 1). Complete SAD and partial SAD rats displayed bradycardic and hypotensive responses to the PBG that were not different from those of control rats (Table 1).

                              
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Table 1.   Phenylphrine, sodium nitroprusside, and phenyl biguanide evoked changes in mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate for control and partial or complete sinoaortic-denervated rats

An intravenous infusion of ANG II produced significant changes in drinking behavior in complete SAD rats (Figs. 1 and 2). As the dose of ANG II increased, complete SAD rats drank more water and displayed shorter latencies to drink compared with the next smaller dose (Figs. 1 and 2). With 40, 100, and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II, complete SAD rats ingested significantly more water compared with control or partial SAD rats during the 60-min test (Figs. 1 and 2A). Furthermore, complete SAD rats displayed significantly shorter latencies to drink compared with control or partial SAD rats infused with 100 and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (Fig. 2B). Although latencies to drink were not statistically significant between groups at 40 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II, a greater percentage of complete SAD rats drank during the 60-min test compared with control or partial SAD rats given this dose (Table 2). No differences were observed in water intakes or latency to drink between the three groups during the infusion of 10 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II.


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Fig. 1.   Cumulative mean ± SE water intakes for complete sinoaortic-denervated (SAD), partial SAD, and control rats infused with 10, 40, 100, or 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (25 µl/min iv). Baroreflex responses for these rats are presented in Table 1. Complete SAD rats drank significantly more water than partial and control rats in response to 40, 100, and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (* P < 0.05) but not when infused with 10 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (P > 0.75 for overall ANOVA). Partial SAD and control rats drank similar amounts of water at every time with every infusion dose of ANG II. Note that the scales in the y-axis are not uniform.



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Fig. 2.   Mean ± SE 60-min water intakes (A) and latencies to drink (B) of complete SAD, partial SAD, and control rats infused with 10, 40, 100, and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (25 µl/min iv) and plotted on a log scale of dose of ANG II. Complete SAD rats drank significantly more water at each dose of ANG II compared with the next lower dose. No differences in latency to drink were observed between groups at 10 or 40 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II; however, a greater percentage of complete SAD rats drank at 40 ng · kg-1 · min-1 compared with partial SAD or control rats (see Table 2). Only rats that drank during the 60-min test were included in this analysis of latency to drink. * Significant differences between complete SAD rats and partial SAD or control rats (P <0.05). #Significant difference from next lower dose of ANG II (P <0.05). Similar statistical differences were detected when the dose effect was analyzed by a repeated-measures ANOVA with the exclusion of 2 rats receiving only 10 and 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 (data not shown).


                              
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Table 2.   Percentage of control, partial SAD, or complete SAD rats that drank during iv infusion of ANG II

Scatter plots of 60-min water intake or latency to drink during an infusion of 40 or 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II plotted as a function of baroreflex gain from the PE baroreflex test are presented in Fig. 3 and show the importance of studying complete SAD rats. By definition, all complete SAD rats had a baroreflex gain equal to zero, and the majority of these rats ingested more water compared with control rats at both 40 and 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (Fig. 3). Although the baroreflex gain was significantly blunted in every partial SAD rat compared with control rats, partial SAD rats usually drank less water than complete SAD rats but similar amounts of water as control rats when infused with 40 and 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (Fig. 3). Similarly, complete SAD rats generally drank sooner than control or partial SAD rats infused with 40 and 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (Fig. 3).


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Fig. 3.   The 60-min water intake (top) or latency to drink (bottom) plotted as a function of baroreflex gain for complete SAD, partial SAD, and control rats infused with 40 or 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II. Rats that did not drink during the test were assigned latencies to drink equal to 60 min for purposes of comparison. The baroreflex gain was taken from the PE baroreflex test. By definition, complete SAD rats displayed a baroreflex gain of 0 (vertical line). The majority of complete SAD rats ingested more water and displayed shorter latencies to drink than control or partial SAD rats when infused with 40 or 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (P < 0.05). Although every partial SAD rat displayed a blunted baroreflex gain compared with control rats, the majority of partial SAD rats ingested amounts of water and displayed latencies to drink similar to those of control rats infused with 40 and 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II. HR, heart rate; MAP, mean arterial pressure.

The infusion of 40, 100, and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II produced significant increases in MAP of complete SAD, partial SAD, and control rats (Fig. 4). Each of these infusion doses of ANG II produced greater elevations in MAP in complete SAD rats than in control rats (P < 0.05; Fig. 4). Compared with control rats, partial SAD rats also showed an exaggerated pressor response to ANG II (P < 0.05); however, complete SAD rats displayed significantly higher MAP values than partial SAD rats infused with 40 and 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II at 3 and 15 min (P < 0.05).


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Fig. 4.   Mean ± SE MAP for complete SAD, partial SAD, and control rats infused with 10, 40, 100, and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (25 µl/min iv). The infusion of ANG II significantly increased MAP above baseline values in complete SAD, partial SAD, and control rats at 40, 100, and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the infusion of ANG II resulted in a greater increase in MAP in complete SAD rats compared with control rats at 40, 100, and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 (P < 0.05). The smallest dose of ANG II (10 ng · kg-1 · min-1) did not significantly change MAP from baseline values in any group (P > 0.6 from overall ANOVA).

Not surprisingly, infusion of 40, 100, and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II caused significant decreases in HR in control rats throughout the 60-min test (Fig. 5). In contrast, these ANG II infusions significantly increased HR above baseline values in complete SAD rats (Fig. 5), whereas the HR of partial SAD rats remained unchanged from baseline values with each dose of ANG II. The infusion of 10 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II did not alter MAP or HR in any group (Figs. 4 and 5).


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Fig. 5.   Mean ± SE HR for complete SAD, partial SAD, and control rats infused with 10, 40, 100, and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (25 µl/min iv). As expected, control rats displayed a significant bradycardia when pressor doses of ANG II (40, 100, and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1) were infused (P < 0.01). In contrast, those doses of ANG II significantly increased HR above baseline values in complete SAD rats (P < 0.05). However, HR did not change from baseline values in partial SAD rats with any dose of ANG II (P > 0.05 from overall ANOVAs). Thus HR of partial SAD rats were significantly different from complete SAD and control rats during 40, 100, and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (P < 0.05). HR values did not change from baseline values in any group during 10 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (P > 0.6 from overall ANOVA).

A two-way ANOVA revealed a significant effect of dose of ANG II on urine volume and urinary Na+ and K+ excretion and a significant effect of group on urinary volume and K+ excretion (Table 3). However, consistent differences in urinary output were not observed between groups, thereby suggesting that large differences in urinary excretion cannot account for the observed differences in drinking behavior.

                              
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Table 3.   Urine volumes and urinary Na+ and K+ excretion for rats infused with ANG II

Effect of intravenous infusion of ANG II on plasma ANG II levels. Each dose of ANG II tested in control rats (10, 40, 100, and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1) produced a significant and sustained increase in plasma ANG II levels above baseline values (Fig. 6A). As the dose increased, plasma ANG II levels were significantly greater than those during the next lower dose of ANG II at every time point. Similarly, infusion of 40 and 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II in complete SAD rats significantly increased plasma ANG II levels above baseline values throughout the infusion period (Fig. 6A), and these levels did not differ from the elevated levels in control rats at any time (P > 0.4).


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Fig. 6.   Mean ± SE plasma ANG II levels in control (filled symbols) and complete SAD (open symbols) rats during an intravenous infusion of 10, 40, 100, or 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (25 µl/min iv; A) or various treatments known to evoke thirst in rats (B). Each infusion dose of ANG II tested significantly increased plasma ANG II levels above baseline values at 3, 15, and 45 min in control rats (P < 0.025) and above those from the next lower dose (P < 0.05). Furthermore, plasma ANG II levels during 40 and 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II were not significantly different between control and complete SAD rats (P > 0.4 from overall ANOVA). Water deprivation (Dep) for 24 h significantly raised plasma ANG II levels above baseline values (P <0.05), and plasma ANG II levels were significantly higher after 48 h of water deprivation. Diazoxide (DZX) treatment (25 mg/kg iv) significantly raised plasma ANG II levels at 30 min (P < 0.01). In contrast, an infusion of 1 M NaCl significantly decreased plasma ANG II levels at 60 min compared with baseline values (P < 0.05). Note that plasma ANG II levels after 24 h of water deprivation were not different from those during 10 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (P > 0.3), whereas plasma ANG II levels after 48 h of water deprivation were not different from those during 40 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (P > 0.4).

To compare plasma ANG II levels during these infusions of ANG II with the effects of other treatments known to evoke thirst and alter the activity of the renin-angiotensin system, additional experiments were performed to analyze plasma ANG II levels after 24 and 48 h of water deprivation, DZX-induced hypotension, or intravenous infusion of HS. Plasma ANG II levels increased significantly from baseline values after 24 and 48 h of water deprivation (Fig. 6B), and the effect of 48 h of water deprivation was greater than that of 24 h of water deprivation (Fig. 6B). As expected (22), DZX-induced hypotension was accompanied by an even greater increase in plasma ANG II levels (Fig. 6B). In contrast, an infusion of 1 M NaCl significantly reduced plasma ANG II levels (Fig. 6B).

When the plasma ANG II levels after these treatments were compared with 15-min values during the infusions of ANG II, 24 h of water deprivation were not significantly different from 10 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (P > 0.4), and 48 h of water deprivation were not significantly different from 40 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (P > 0.3). However, plasma ANG II levels after 24 and 48 h of water deprivation were significantly lower than the levels observed during the two higher doses of ANG II tested. Indeed, plasma ANG II levels during 100 and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II were much greater than plasma ANG II levels after any of the treatments examined (Fig. 6).

Effects of sinoaortic denervation on the AP-evoked inhibition of drinking behavior during increases in Posmol. Baroreflex responses for control, partial SAD, and complete SAD rats used in the hyperosmolality experiments are presented in Table 1 and are similar to those discussed above for ANG II experiments. Again, baseline MAP and HR were not different between groups (Table 1; P > 0.2 from overall ANOVAs), and MAP of complete SAD rats was significantly more labile than that of control or partial SAD rats (Table 1).

Control rats treated with HS + SLN drank significant amounts of water and displayed a short latency to drink (3.0 ± 0.4 min). In agreement with previous findings (21), an infusion of PE significantly increased MAP above baseline values and inhibited drinking behavior. Control rats treated with HS + PE ingested significantly less water than control rats treated with HS + SLN (Fig. 7) and displayed a significantly longer latency to drink than those treated with HS + SLN (7.8 ± 1.7 vs. 3.0 ± 0.4 min, respectively; P < 0.05). Furthermore, a significantly smaller percentage of control rats treated with HS + PE drank during the test compared with control rats treated with HS + SLN (Table 4).


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Fig. 7.   Mean ± SE cumulative water intake, MAP, and HR of complete SAD, partial SAD, and control rats infused with 1 M NaCl (HS, 2 ml/h for 2 h iv) and then either phenylephrine (PE, 4 µg · kg-1 · min-1) or isotonic saline (SLN, 25 µl/min). As expected (21), the infusion of PE significantly reduced water intake while increasing MAP in control rats (P < 0.01). In contrast, the infusion of PE did not significantly reduce water intake (P > 0.5) in complete SAD rats despite producing even larger elevations in MAP (P < 0.05). In fact, water intakes of complete SAD rats treated with HS + PE and HS + SLN did not significantly differ from each other or from control rats treated with HS + SLN (P > 0.5). An infusion of PE in partial SAD rats significantly reduced water intake and raised MAP as in control rats treated with HS + PE (P < 0.05). As expected, an infusion of PE produced a significant bradycardia in control rats at each time (P < 0.05) but not in complete or partial SAD rats.


                              
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Table 4.   Latencies to drink and percentage of control, partial SAD, or complete SAD rats that drank in response to an iv infusion of 1 M NaCl plus an infusion of either PE (4 µg · kg-1 · min-1) or SLN (25 µl/min)

To determine whether arterial baroreceptor afferents mediate the inhibitory effect of an acute increase in AP on thirst stimulated by hyperosmolality, SAD rats were treated with HS + PE or HS + SLN. If arterial baroreceptor afferents mediate this inhibitory effect, then complete SAD rats treated with HS + PE should display drinking responses similar to complete SAD or control rats treated with HS + SLN. In fact, all complete SAD rats treated with HS + PE drank (Table 4), displayed a short latency to drink (Table 4), and ingested amounts of water that were not different from complete SAD or control rats treated with HS + SLN despite a significantly elevated MAP throughout the test period (Fig. 7). In contrast, partial SAD rats treated with HS + PE ingested significantly less water than partial SAD or control rats treated with HS + SLN (Fig. 7).

Because of the loss of baroreceptor afferent fibers, complete SAD rats treated with HS + PE displayed no significant change in HR despite marked elevations in MAP (Fig. 7). As reported previously (21), control rats treated with HS + PE displayed a significant bradycardia compared with baseline values, whereas partial SAD rats treated with HS + PE displayed no significant changes in HR at any time (Fig. 7).

The inhibition of drinking behavior resulting from the PE infusion occurred in control and partial SAD rats despite significant elevations in Posmol (Table 5). The infusion of HS significantly raised Posmol in both treatment groups; however, Posmol of control and partial SAD rats treated with HS + PE remained elevated at 30 min despite access to water (Table 5). In contrast, Posmol of complete SAD rats treated with HS + PE returned to baseline levels at 30 min and did not differ from Posmol of control or complete SAD rats treated with HS + SLN (Table 5).

                              
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Table 5.   Plasma osmolality for control and SAD rats infused with 1 M NaCl (2ml/h iv) followed by either SLN (25 µl/min) or PE (4 µg · kg-1 · min-1).

Urine volumes and excretion of Na+ or K+ were not statistically different between control, partial SAD, and complete SAD rats before or during water access regardless of treatment condition (data not shown). Furthermore, these values are not statistically different from those reported previously in control rats treated identically (21).


    DISCUSSION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

An acute increase in AP has been demonstrated to inhibit thirst stimulated by ANG II, hyperosmolality, or hypovolemia in rats (3, 4, 13, 17, 21). However, the afferent signal(s) mediating this inhibitory effect has not been established. The primary finding of the present study is that sinoaortic denervation eliminates the inhibition of thirst resulting from an acute increase in AP. Complete SAD rats drank sooner and ingested more water compared with control rats (or partial SAD rats) during an intravenous infusion of ANG II. Similarly, PE-induced increases in AP failed to inhibit drinking behavior in complete SAD rats that were infused intravenously with HS. Thus it appears that arterial baroreceptors play a critical role in mediating the inhibition of thirst during an acute increase in AP.

Complete SAD enhances drinking behavior during an infusion of ANG II. The primary way by which the central nervous system detects changes in AP is through an afferent neural signal arising from arterial baroreceptors. Because removal of these afferent nerves eliminates the reflexive changes in sympathetic nerve activity and HR to changes in AP (1, 2, 27), we hypothesized that complete removal of these afferents would eliminate the pressure-dependent inhibition of thirst during an intravenous infusion of ANG II. Although previous reports suggest that sinoaortic denervation does not alter water intakes stimulated by peripherally administered ANG II (10, 16), the SAD rats in those studies may not have been completely denervated, as discussed below. On the other hand, complete removal of both arterial and cardiopulmonary afferents, by surgical denervation in dogs (11) or electrolytic lesion of NTS in rats (18), resulted in greater water intakes and shortened latencies to drink during intravenous infusions of pressor doses of ANG II. Therefore, arterial and/or cardiopulmonary stretch receptors mediate the AP-evoked inhibition of drinking behavior during an infusion of ANG II, but it was unclear whether one or both types of afferents mediate this inhibition.

In the present study, complete sinoaortic denervation resulted in significantly shorter latencies to drink and greater water intakes during an infusion of pressor doses of ANG II, thereby suggesting that arterial baroreceptors play a critical role in mediating the inhibition of thirst during an acute increase in AP. If arterial baroreceptors predominantly mediate this inhibition, then the latencies to drink and water intakes of complete SAD rats should be similar to those observed in rats when the ANG II-induced increase in AP was attenuated with a vasodilator (4, 17, 21). Indeed, a comparison of the present data with our recently published findings, using the same general procedures as in the present study (21), confirms this hypothesis. Complete SAD rats infused with 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II and control rats (n = 8) infused with 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II plus intravenous administration of DZX (10 mg/kg iv) display similar latencies to drink (9.3 ± 1.1 vs. 8.0 ± 1.2 min, respectively; P > 0.4) and ingest similar amounts of water during a 60-min test (8.3 ± 1.0 vs. 8.2 ± 0.7 ml, respectively, P > 0.9). Therefore, the surgical elimination of the neural afferent signal associated with an acute increase in AP by complete sinoaortic denervation has the same effect on drinking behavior stimulated by an intravenous infusion of ANG II as the pharmacological elimination of the acute increase in AP in intact rats. These observations suggest that the AP-evoked inhibition of drinking behavior is mediated by arterial baroreceptor afferents.

Although a large increase in AP can elevate cardiac pressure and stimulate mechanosensitive cardiac afferents (6), the shortened latencies and greater water intakes in our complete SAD rats cannot be attributed to the destruction of cardiopulmonary afferents. First, complete SAD rats exhibited normal hypotensive and bradycardic responses to PBG, a response that is dependent on intact cardiopulmonary afferents (26). Second, the water intakes of complete SAD rats are similar to those of NTS-lesioned rats studied previously in a similar protocol in this laboratory (8.3 ± 1.0 vs. 10.3 ± 0.7 ml, respectively; P > 0.1; see Ref. 18), despite the fact that NTS lesions eliminate neural input from cardiopulmonary and other visceral afferents. Thus it appears that arterial baroreceptors solely mediate the inhibition of thirst resulting from an increase in AP during an infusion of ANG II.

Drinking behavior in partial SAD rats during an infusion of ANG II. One of the most striking observations regarding the effect of sinoaortic denervation on ANG II-evoked thirst was the requirement that the denervation be complete. In the present study, a denervation was considered to be complete only when there were no reflexive changes in HR during intravenous bolus injections of PE and SNP. Those SAD rats exhibiting residual HR responses during baroreflex testing were classified as partial SAD rats; these rats displayed changes in HR of 10-30 beats/min compared with 50-95 beats/min in control rats in response to PE and SNP. With each dose of ANG II tested, partial SAD rats displayed latencies to drink and ingested amounts of water similar to those of weight-matched control rats (see Fig. 3). Even partial SAD rats displaying a baroreflex gain of <0.5 beats · min-1 · mmHg-1 drank water in amounts similar to control rats during infusions of 40 or 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II (see Fig. 3). The critical importance of a complete sinoaortic denervation in studies assessing the role of arterial baroreceptor afferents has been emphasized previously (20), and the present results reinforce this point.

In contrast to the present study, previous reports (10, 16) have concluded that surgical removal of arterial baroreceptor afferents in rats does not enhance ANG II-evoked thirst. We have already highlighted the extent of baroreceptor denervation as a critical issue in this study, and the same concern is relevant to these previous studies (10, 16); it not clear whether the animals in those studies were completely denervated. First, neither study (10, 16) examined reflexive changes in HR in response to decreases in AP, and the importance of assessing baroreflex function by both increases and decreases in AP has been emphasized previously (20). Furthermore, Kadekaro and colleagues (10) assessed the completeness of the sinoaortic denervation by measuring the changes in HR during an infusion of 2.5 µg/min ANG II. Although a lack of change in HR was interpreted as evidence of baroreceptor denervation (10), this result may indicate a partial denervation, since it is in distinct contrast to the tachycardic response observed in complete SAD rats in the present study (see Fig. 5). In another report suggesting that sinoaortic denervation does not enhance ANG II-evoked thirst, Rettig and Johnson (16) observed small residual changes in HR in response to increases in AP in SAD rats. More importantly, the baroreflex testing was performed while rats were anesthetized with ether, and a variety of anesthetics have been shown to blunt baroreflex changes in HR (20, 23). Therefore, it seems likely that the SAD rats of Rettig and Johnson (16) would have displayed greater changes in HR had baroreflex testing been performed in unanesthetized rats, like the partial SAD rats in the present study. Thus it now appears likely that the previously reported failure of sinoaortic denervation to enhance thirst in rats stimulated by peripherally administered ANG II results from an incomplete deafferentation of arterial baroreceptors.

It is noteworthy that the drinking behavior of partial SAD rats in response to pressor doses of ANG II did not fall between that of control and complete SAD rats, despite the partial loss of baroreceptor afferents. In explanation, partial SAD rats exhibited greater elevations in MAP than control rats during ANG II infusions, and this greater elevation in MAP may have provided a greater inhibitory signal to drinking behavior in partial SAD rats than in control rats since partial SAD rats still are capable of detecting changes in AP. It would be interesting to determine whether water intakes and latencies to drink of partial SAD rats would fall between those of control and complete SAD rats if MAP was clamped at a similar level in all three groups. On the other hand, previous reports suggest that partial SAD rats appear similar to control rats in regard to certain other responses (19, 20), and this may extend to AP-evoked inhibition of drinking behavior during an intravenous infusion of ANG II.

Cardiovascular responses to ANG II in SAD rats. An intravenous infusion of 40, 100, and 250 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II produced significant increases in MAP and decreases in HR in control rats. In contrast, complete SAD rats displayed greater elevations in MAP and a significant tachycardia throughout the test. Similar increases in HR during an infusion of ANG II have been reported in baroreceptor-denervated dogs (5, 7) and rats (18). This response likely results from direct chronotropic effects of ANG II via AT1 receptors (14) and an increase in sympathetic outflow (5, 14, 27). On the other hand, the HR of partial SAD rats infused with ANG II did not change from baseline values, which probably results from a small residual baroreflex-induced bradycardia being cancelled by the tachycardic effects of ANG II. The larger increase in AP observed during the ANG II infusion in partial and complete SAD rats compared with control rats most likely results from the blunting or loss of baroreceptor-mediated sympathoinhibition and an increase in cardiac output.

Physiological significance of plasma ANG II levels. The enhancement of thirst stimulated by the infusion of ANG II in complete SAD rats cannot be explained by differences in plasma ANG II levels because complete SAD and control rats exhibited similar sustained increases in plasma ANG II levels during infusion of 40 or 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II. In agreement with previous studies (9, 15), the increases in plasma ANG II levels produced by the larger infusion doses of ANG II do not resemble the plasma ANG II levels produced by any treatment examined in the present study; however, the increase in plasma ANG II levels observed during infusion of 40 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II was similar to that observed after 48 h of water deprivation (see Fig. 6). Because the enhancement of drinking behavior during an infusion of ANG II was observed in complete SAD rats at this dose, the present results suggest that arterial baroreceptors are capable of influencing drinking behavior in association with physiological increases in plasma ANG II levels.

Sinoaortic denervation eliminates AP-evoked inhibition of drinking behavior during increases in Posmol. Previously, we reported that increases in AP lengthen the latency to drink and reduce water intake stimulated by increases in Posmol and that this inhibitory effect is related to the evoked increase in AP in the range of ~100 to ~160 mmHg (21). The present study confirms those findings but also demonstrates that complete SAD rats treated with HS + PE behave similarly to control rats treated with HS + SLN despite significant differences in MAP in the two groups. These effects cannot be attributed to differences in Posmol, urinary excretion of the Na+ load, or differences in MAP between complete SAD and control rats. Furthermore, complete SAD rats treated with HS + SLN displayed similar latencies to drink and ingested comparable amounts of water as control rats treated with HS + SLN, thereby suggesting that complete SAD rats are not more sensitive to the hyperosmotic signal for thirst. Again, the degree of the denervation was critical for the elimination of this inhibitory effect; partial SAD rats treated with HS + PE displayed latencies to drink and water intakes that were not different from control rats treated with HS + PE (see Fig. 7). Thus arterial baroreceptors mediate AP-evoked inhibition of thirst regardless of whether drinking behavior is stimulated by hyperosmolality or by peripherally administered ANG II.

Drinking behavior and the baroreceptor reflex. When water intake is plotted as a function of MAP, the relationship resembles the well-known baroreceptor reflex curve relating changes in HR or sympathetic nerve activity to changes in MAP (21). As MAP increased, water intake decreased whether it was stimulated by ANG II, hyperosmolality, or hypovolemia in rats. Furthermore, this inhibitory effect was directly related to the increase in AP in the range of ~100 to ~160 mmHg and appeared to be equivalent across these three thirst stimuli (21). Because complete removal of arterial baroreceptor afferents is known to eliminate the reflexive changes in HR or sympathetic nerve activity during acute increases in AP (1, 2, 27), it seemed plausible that complete removal of these same afferents would eliminate the inhibitory effect of an acute increase in AP on drinking behavior. As expected, when water intakes of complete SAD rats infused with 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II are expressed as a percentage of the water intakes of control rats infused with 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II plus DZX (10 mg/kg iv), water intakes of complete SAD rats were equivalent to those of control rats infused with 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II plus DZX (10 or 20 mg/kg iv) despite significant differences in MAP (Fig. 8A). Similarly, water intakes of complete SAD rats treated with HS + PE were equivalent to control or complete SAD rats treated with HS + SLN (Fig. 8B) despite significant differences in MAP. With both ANG II and hyperosmolality, the water intakes of partial SAD rats with an elevated AP were equivalent to control rats with a similar increase in MAP. Therefore, complete removal of arterial baroreceptor afferents eliminates the AP-evoked inhibitory influence on drinking behavior when stimulated by ANG II or hyperosmolality.


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Fig. 8.   Mean ± SE water intakes expressed as a percentage of control values plotted as a function of MAP for complete SAD, partial SAD, and control rats. Drinking behavior was stimulated either by ANG II (A) or hyperosmolality (B). Water intakes were 15-min values expressed as a percentage of the mean value for rats treated with 100 ng · kg-1 · min-1 ANG II plus DZX (10 mg/kg iv; A), as previously reported from our laboratory (21), and for control rats treated with HS + SLN (B). MAP was clamped at different levels by varying the dose of DZX (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg iv) for ANG II experiments or the dose of PE (2, 4, and 8 µg · kg-1 · min-1 iv). Despite significantly elevated MAP, water intakes of complete SAD rats fell near or on the dotted line representing 100% of control water intake. In fact, a significant correlation was found when the percentage of control water intakes was plotted as a function of MAP to the baroreflex algorithm for control rats (r = 0.67 for ANG II, r = 0.66 for hyperosmolality). However, the majority of complete SAD rats fell outside the 95% confidence interval in both ANG II and hyperosmolality experiments when rats were hypertensive, whereas the majority of partial SAD rats fell within the 95% confidence interval.

Perspectives

The baroreflex plays an important role in maintaining proper perfusion of tissues when animals are faced with perturbations in AP. Changes in AP are sensed by stretch receptors, relayed through a neural afferent signal to the central nervous system, and evoke changes in the activity of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems as well as hypothalamic endocrine systems (24). During an increase in AP, these reflex responses include decreases in cardiac output, vascular resistance, and firing rate of putative vasopressin neurons. In addition, an increase in AP leads to an increase in the renal excretion of water and Na+ thereby decreasing intravascular volume and restoring AP. All of these responses act in concert to restore AP toward original levels. In an analogous manner, perturbations in AP might be expected to limit the ingestion of water and Na+, thereby aiding in the restoration of AP. Indeed, we have previously demonstrated that acute increases in AP inhibit drinking behavior stimulated by ANG II, hyperosmolality, and hypovolemia in rats (21). Similar to the effects of complete removal of arterial baroreceptor afferents on reflexive changes in sympathetic nerve activity and HR during acute changes in AP (1, 2, 27), the present study demonstrates that complete sinoaortic denervation eliminated the inhibitory effect of acute increases in AP on drinking behavior. Therefore, influences of baroreceptors on cardiovascular homeostasis should include behavioral responses in addition to neural, endocrine, and renal responses.


    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Ruwani Bandaranayake and Jason Devlin for technical assistance and Dr. Ian Reid for the generous gift of the ANG II antibody.


    FOOTNOTES

This research was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants MH-25140 (E. M. Stricker) and HL-55687 (A. F. Sved). S. D. Stocker was supported by an Andrew Mellon Predoctoral Fellowship.

Present address for S. D. Stocker: Dept. of Physiology, Univ. of Texas Health Sciences Center-San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229.

Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: A. F. Sved, Dept. of Neuroscience, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 446 Crawford Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 (E-mail: sved{at}bns.pitt.edu).

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

10.1152/ajpregu.00651.2001

Received 2 November 2001; accepted in final form 18 January 2002.


    REFERENCES
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ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
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