THE SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS-SYSTEM IN HYPERTENSION - A POTENTIAL LONG-TERM REGULATOR OF ARTERIAL-PRESSURE

Increased sympathetic nerve activity in hypertension Two techniques (t he microneurographic method for intraneural recordings of sympathetic nerve activity and radiotracer techniques for study of norepinephrine kinetics) have been used recently to obtain sophisticated insight into regional sympathetic function in humans. Persuasive evidence now indi cates that you ng mild ly hypertensive humans have increased sympathet ic neural activity. Long-term regulation of arterial pressure Three cr edible mechanisms have been proposed to sustain long-term sympathetic nervous influences in hypertension: antinatriuretic and renin stimulat ing effects of the renal sympathetic nerves, sympathetic influences on the development of vascular membrane properties and trophic effects o f the sympathetic nerves on vascular and cardiac muscle. Conclusion Th ere is increasing evidence that the sympathetic nervous system may pla y a primary role in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension and the long-term regulation of arterial pressure.