Neuroanatomic studies describing forebrain projections to the lateral
parabrachial nucleus suggest a central integrative role in cardiovascu
lar regulation. We performed this study to examine the role of this po
ntine nucleus in the maintenance of one-kidney, figure-8 renal-wrap hy
pertension. Bilateral ibotenic acid ablation of the lateral parabrachi
al nucleus was performed 4 weeks after induction of hypertension or sh
am operation. In hypertensive rats, ablation produced a significant re
duction in mean arterial pressure from 160 +/- 4 to 118 +/- 2 mm Hg an
d a transient but significant increase in heart rate from 381 +/- 5 to
408 +/- 8 beats per minute on the first day after ablation; arterial
pressure returned to preablation values by day 5 after ablation. In sh
am-operated, normotensive animals, arterial pressure was not altered b
y ablation, and a transient but significant increase in heart rate fro
m 384 +/- 8 to 419 +/- 7 beats per minute was again observed. Before a
blation, trimethaphan administration produced a significantly greater
drop in arterial pressure in hypertensive (Delta-72.8 +/- 4.6 mm Hg) v
ersus normotensive (Delta-55.7 +/- 4.1 mm Hg) animals. This effect was
eliminated on day 1 after ablation yet returned on day 4 after ablati
on. In blood samples obtained before ablation and on days 1 and 4 afte
r ablation, circulating plasma catecholamine concentrations in both gr
oups remained unchanged. These observations suggest that, because of p
ossible alternate neural compensatory mechanisms, lateral parabrachial
nucleus ablation produces a significant yet transient reversal of ren
al-wrap hypertension. Thus, the lateral parabrachial nucleus may contr
ibute to the increased sympathetic nervous system function associated
with this model.