Importance of the sympathetic nervous system in the development of renal hypertension in the rat

Weanling male rats (C.F. strain, 2-3 weeks old, 30-35 g) and adult male rats (5-6 weeks old, 130-140 g) subjected to bilateral clamping of the renal arteries.

Chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) administered intravenously (2 x 34 mg/kg on day 1, 2 x 68 mg/kg on day 7, 1 x 15 mg/kg on day 14) prior to renal artery clamping, with or without adrenal demedullation.

Control rats undergoing bilateral clamping of renal arteries without 6-OHDA treatment.

Development of hypertension (blood pressure measured by plethysmographic method from the tail) over 7-9 weeks.surrogate