title: Cardiac sympathetic overactivity and decreased baroreflex sensitivity in L-NAME hypertensive rats.
abstract: The present study evaluated the possible changes in the autonomic control of heart rate in the hypertensive model induced by the inhibition of nitric oxide synthase. Rats were treated with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME group) in the drinking water during 7 days, whereas control groups were treated with tap water (control group) or with the N(G)-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (D-NAME group), an inactive isomer of the L-NAME molecule. The L-NAME group developed hypertension and tachycardia. The sequential blockade of the autonomic influences with propranolol and methylatropine indicated that the intrinsic heart rate did not differ among groups and revealed a sympathetic overactivity in the control of heart rate in the L-NAME group. The spectral density power of heart rate, calculated using fast-Fourier transformation, indicated a reduced variability in the low-frequency band (0.20-0.60 Hz) for the L-NAME group. The baroreflex sensitivity was also attenuated in these animals when compared with the normotensive control or D-NAME group. Overall, these data indicate cardiac sympathetic overactivity associated with a decreased baroreflex sensitivity in L-NAME hypertensive rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ballejo
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Salgado
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001286:Atropine Derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D017942:Nitric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001286:Atropine Derivatives; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D017942:Nitric Acid; C006649:methylatropine; D011433:Propranolol; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester