ROLE OF HEPATIC NERVES IN LONG-TERM CONTROL OF NACL HOMEOSTASIS IN WISTAR-KYOTO RATS

This study was designed to investigate the effects of hepatic denervat ion (HD) on NaCl balance and arterial blood pressure in conscious Wist ar-Kyoto rats maintained on normal or high-NaCl food. When rats were f ed normal NaCl food (0.45% NaCl), HD had no significant effect on NaCl balance and arterial pressure. However, when rats were fed high-NaCl food (8% NaCl for 10 days), NaCl balance became more positive in HD ra ts than in sham rats. Furthermore, mean arterial pressure in HD rats ( 120 +/- 2 mmHg) was higher than that in sham rats (108 +/- 3 mmHg). Th ese results indicate that the hepatic nerves play a significant role i n the long-term control of NaCl balance and arterial pressure during h igh-NaCl food intake.