Baroreceptor denervation reduces inflammatory status and worsens cardiovascular collapse during systemic inflammation

Beyond the regulation of cardiovascular function, baroreceptor afferents play polymodal roles. We hypothesized that baroreceptor denervation affects lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammation (SI) and hemodynamic collapse in conscious rats, and that these parameters are interconnected. We combine: a) hemodynamic and thermoregulatory recordings after LPS administration at a septic-like dose b) analysis of the cardiovascular complexity, c) evaluation of vascular function in mesenteric resistance vessels, and d) measurements of inflammatory cytokines (plasma and spleen). LPS-induced drop in blood pressure was higher in sino-aortic denervated (SAD) rats. LPS-induced hemodynamic collapse was associated with SAD-dependent autonomic disbalance. LPS-induced vascular dysfunction was not affected by SAD. Surprisingly, SAD blunted LPS-induced surges of plasma and spleen cytokines. These data indicate that sino-aortic afferents are key to alleviate LPS-induced cardiovascular collapse, affecting the autonomic cardiovascular control, without affecting resistance blood vessels. Moreover, baroreflex modulation of the LPS-induced SI and hemodynamic collapse seem not to be interconnected.