Neonatal sympathectomy reduces adult blood pressure and cardiovascular pathology in Y chromosome consomic rats

The hypothesis was tested that the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) develop mentally influences circulating testosterone (T), systolic blood pressure ( SBP) and cardio-renal pathology in SHR/y animals. A sympathoplegic drug, gu anethidine, and an antibody to nerve growth factor were administered to WKY and borderline hypertensive SHR/y male rats (n = 20/group) for the first 3 weeks of lift; control groups (n = 20/group) received saline. SBP, serum T and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured. SBP in the WKY and SHR/y sympa thectomy (sympx) groups decreased 10 mmHg (p < 0.001) and 50 mmHg (p < 0.00 1), respectively, when compared to their control groups. Serum T levels in the sympx WKY group were lower (p < 0.01) than those in controls, and the r ise of T typically observed in SWR/y from weeks 6-8 was delayed in the symp x SHR/y group, similar to the pattern in WKY. Serum LH levels were increase d in the sympx WKY group, but not in the SHR/y group. Sympx caused a greate r reduction in renal glomerular changes (p < 0.01), coronary artery collage n deposition (p < 0.01) and myocardial fibrosis (p < 0.01) in SHR/y than WK Y mts. In conclusion the SHR Y chromosome has a locus that enhances SNS act ivity, which can raise SBP and result in renal and cardiovascular tissue da mage.