title: Central alpha2-receptor mechanisms contribute to enhanced renal responses during ketamine-xylazine anesthesia.
abstract: We have recently developed an experimental approach to study central opioid control of renal function in anesthetized rats. This model system uses the intravenous infusion of the alpha2-agonist xylazine to enhance basal levels of urine flow rate and urinary sodium excretion in ketamine-anesthetized rats. This study examined the contribution of central and peripheral alpha2-adrenergic receptor mechanisms in mediating the enhanced renal excretory responses produced by xylazine. In ketamine-anesthetized rats, the enhanced levels of urine flow rate and urinary sodium excretion produced by the intravenous infusion of xylazine were reversed by the intravenous bolus injection of the alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine but not by the alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist terazosin. In separate animals the intracerebroventricular administration of yohimbine only reduced urine flow rate by approximately 50% but did not alter urinary sodium excretion. The decrease in urine flow rate produced by intracerebroventricular yohimbine was reversed by the intravenous injection of a selective V2-vasopressin receptor antagonist. In a separate group of ketamine- and xylazine-anesthetized rats, the bilateral microinjection of yohimbine into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) also significantly decreased urine flow rate by 54% without altering urinary sodium excretion. The microinjection of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol into the PVN did not alter either renal excretory parameter. These results suggest that during intravenous infusion, xylazine increases urine flow rate by activating alpha2-adrenergic receptors in the PVN, which in turn decrease vasopressin release. The ability of alpha-adrenergic mechanisms in the PVN to selectively influence the renal handling of water, but not sodium, may contribute to the reported dissociation of the natriuretic and diuretic responses of alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Brazil 29040-090.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kapusta
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Kenigs
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Varner
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000758:Anesthesia; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D004231:Diuresis / Q000187:drug effects; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007649:Ketamine; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009318:Natriuresis / Q000187:drug effects; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000502:physiology*; D014991:Xylazine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D014991:Xylazine; D007649:Ketamine