Aging and baroreflex control of RSNA and heart rate in rats

• Published in: American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology integrative and comparative physiology, 2000-11, Vol.279 (5), p.1865-R1871
• Main Authors: Irigoyen, M. C, Moreira, E. D, Werner, A, Ida, F, Pires, M. D, Cestari, I. A, Krieger, E. M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aging - physiology; Animals; Baroreflex - physiology; Blood Pressure; Heart Rate - physiology; Kidney - innervation; Nitroprusside - pharmacology; Phenylephrine - pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sympathetic Nervous System - physiology; Sympathomimetics - pharmacology; Systole; Vagus Nerve - physiology
• ISSN: 0363-6119; 1522-1490
• DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.2000.279.5.r1865

1  Hypertension Unit, Heart Institute-InCor, Medical School, 3  Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico Programa Institucional de Bolsas de Iniciaç o Científica, 4  Divisão de Bioengenharia, Heart Institute, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo 5403-000; and 2  Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiology, Department of Physiology, Basic, and Health Sciences Institute, University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90050 - 170, Brazil Aging is associated with altered autonomic control of cardiovascular function, but baroreflex function in animal models of aging remains controversial. In this study, pressor and depressor agent-induced reflex bradycardia and tachycardia were attenuated in conscious old (24 mo) rats [57 and 59% of responses in young (10 wk) Wistar rats, respectively]. The intrinsic heart rate (HR, 339 ± 5 vs. 410 ± 10 beats/min) was reduced in aged animals, but no intergroup differences in resting mean arterial blood pressure (MAP, 112 ± 3 vs. 113 ± 5 mmHg) or HR (344 ± 9 vs. 347 ± 9 beats/min) existed between old and young rats, respectively. The aged group also exhibited a depressed (49%) parasympathetic contribution to the resting HR value (vagal effect) but preserved sympathetic function after intravenous methylatropine and propranolol. An implantable electrode revealed tonic renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) was similar between groups. However, old rats showed impaired baroreflex control of HR and RSNA after intravenous nitroprusside ( 0.63 ± 0.18 vs. 1.84 ± 0.4 bars · cycle 1 · mmHg 1 · s 1 ). Therefore, aging in rats is associated with 1 ) preserved baseline MAP, HR, and RSNA, 2 ) impaired baroreflex control of HR and RSNA, and 3 ) altered autonomic control of resting HR. sympathetic activity; cardiovascular function; autonomic control; vagal effect