title: Long-lasting cardiovascular depression induced by acupuncture-like stimulation of the sciatic nerve in unanaesthetized rats. Effects of arousal and type of hypertension.
abstract: Prolonged low frequency stimulation of the sciatic nerve in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), is reported to induce a naloxone-reversible long-lasting depressor response (Yao et al. 1982a). In the present study this depressor response was compared during daytime and night-time conditions to determine whether different degrees of arousal affect this response. In addition, the effect of sciatic nerve stimulation was examined in one-clip, two-kidney renal hypertensive rats (RHR); a type of secondary hypertension which lacks the central autonomic hyper-reactivity which characterizes the SHR variant of primary hypertension. A maximal fall in blood pressure of 20 mm Hg was observed 1 h after sciatic nerve stimulation in SHR examined in daytime. We also found a significant bradycardia that lasted for 2.5 h. Neither poststimulatory depression nor bradycardia were observed in RHR examined at daytime. A short-lasting, non-significant decrease in blood pressure and heart rate was found following sciatic stimulation in SHR examined at night.
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006339:Heart Rate; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors