[Na+] of lateral ventricular cerebrospinal fluid in conscious rabbits before and after osmotic and hypovolemic stimuli

Increases in CSF [Na+] precede the increases in blood pressure in Dahl S rats and SHR on a high-salt diet

In Dahl salt-sensitive (S) and salt-resistant (R) rats, and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, at 5-6 wk of age, a cannula was placed in the cisterna magna, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was withdrawn continuously at 75 microl/12 h. CSF was collected as day- and nighttime samples from rats on a regular salt intake (0.6% Na+; R-Na) and then on a high salt intake (8% Na+; H-Na). In separate groups of rats, the abdominal aorta was cannulated and blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) measured at 10 AM and 10 PM, with rats first on R-Na and then on H-Na. On H-Na, CSF [Na+] started to increase in the daytime of day 2 in Dahl S rats and of day 3 in SHR. BP and HR did not rise until day 3 in Dahl S rats and day 4 in SHR. In Dahl R and WKY rats, high salt did not change CSF [Na+], BP, or HR. In a third set of Dahl S rats, sampling of both CSF and BP was performed in each individual rat. Again, significant increases in CSF [Na+] were observed 1-2 days earlier than the increases in BP and HR. In a fourth set of Dahl S rats, BP and HR were recorded continuously by means of radiotelemetry for 5 days on R-Na and 8 days on H-Na. On H-Na, BP (but not HR) increased first in the nighttime of day 2. In another set of Dahl S rats, intracerebroventricular infusion of antibody Fab fragments binding ouabain-like compounds (OLC) with high affinity prevented the increase in BP and HR by H-Na but further increased CSF [Na+]. Finally, in Wistar rats on H-Na, intracerebroventricular infusion of ouabain increased BP and HR but decreased CSF [Na+]. Thus, in both Dahl S and SHR on H-Na, increases in CSF [Na+] preceded the increases in BP and HR, consistent with a primary role of increased CSF [Na+] in the salt-induced hypertension. An increase in brain OLC in response to the initial increase in CSF [Na+] appears to attenuate further increases in CSF [Na+] but at the "expense" of sympathoexcitation and hypertension.

Osmosensitive hypothalamic neurons and their responses to cardiovascular receptor activation

Neurons in the rostral hypothalamic areas were examined with physiologically hypertonic (+30 mOsm/kg, by NaCl or mannitol) and hypotonic (-30 mOsm/kg) artificial cerebrospinal fluids (ACSFs) applied by pressure through a multibarrel micropipette in urethane-anesthetized rats. Of 304 neurons tested, 39 were excited by the hypertonic ACSFs and/or inhibited by the hypotonic ACSF, and 35 were inhibited by the hypertonic ACSFs and/or excited by the hypotonic ACSF. The former cells were designated hypertonic-sensitive and the latter hypotonic-sensitive. Both types of osmosensitive neurons were diffusely scattered in the examined areas, but neurons in the lateral preoptic area and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis responded more frequently (30-40%) to the osmotic stimuli. Osmosensitive and insensitive neurons were recorded during activation of the baro- and volume receptors of the cardiovascular system. Of seven neurons that were excited during temporal hypotension induced by intravenous administration of nitroprusside, five were hypertonic-sensitive and two were osmotically insensitive. Hypertonic-sensitive neurons may be activated during dehydration, which increases the osmotic pressure and decreases the volume of body fluids. Of six neurons that were excited during temporal hypertension induced by intravenous administration of phenylephrine, four were hypotonic-sensitive and two were osmotically insensitive. Hypotonic-sensitive neurons may be activated during rehydration or overhydration. Osmosensitive neurons probably integrate cardiovascular and osmotic information that is important for the central regulation of body fluids.

Activity of neurons in the lateral preoptic area during drinking behavior by the rat

Rats were trained to drink water, sucrose solution, and saline while their heads were painlessly held in a stereotaxic apparatus with an attachment fixed to the skull. A total of 286 neurons in the lateral preoptic area (LPO) were recorded during the drinking behavior. During water intake, 40% of the neurons tested were either excited or inhibited. Sucrose elicited responses in 25% of the neurons, and saline in 34%. Of the 52 neurons recorded while rats drank all test solutions, 8 specifically responded to water, 3 were sucrose specific, 4 were saline specific, 12 responded to all solutions, and the remaining 25 did not respond to any solutions. Artificial cerebrospinal fluids (ACSFs) with physiologically hypertonic (+30 mOsm/kg, by NaCl or mannitol) and hypotonic (-30 mOsm/kg) osmotic pressure were applied to 88 neurons through a multibarrel micropipette. Of these neurons, 15 (17%) were hypotonic-sensitive; they were excited by hypotonic ACSF and/or inhibited by hypertonic ACSFs. There were 4 (5%) that were hypertonic-sensitive; they were excited by hypertonic ACSFs and/or inhibited by hypotonic ACSF. Of six hypotonic-sensitive neurons examined, three were water specific, and none were sucrose nor saline specific. Of four hypertonic-sensitive neurons, one was water specific, and another was saline specific. These results showed activity of some LPO neurons specifically related to water intake. Osmosensitive neurons in the LPO may regulate water intake.

HPLC determination of inorganic cation levels in CSF and plasma of conscious rabbits

An HPLC method is described using conductimetric detection for the quantitative determination of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of conscious rabbits. This method enabled the four cations to be estimated with rapidity, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision. The mean millimolar concentrations +/- SD found in CSF and (plasma) of 15 untreated animals were as follows: sodium, 146.96 +/- 17.84 (135.06 +/- 20.11); potassium, 3.32 +/- 0.56 (4.57 +/- 1.03); magnesium, 0.90 +/- 0.20 (0.72 +/- 0.13); and calcium, 1.47 +/- 0.19 (3.32 +/- 0.59).

Sequential changes of cerebrospinal fluid sodium during the development of hypertension in Dahl rats

The role of sodium retention and consequent changes in cerebrospinal fluid sodium concentration in the genesis of hypertension in Dahl rats was evaluated. Dahl salt-sensitive (DS, n = 7), Dahl salt-resistant (DR, n = 7), and Sprague-Dawley (n = 6) rats were housed in metabolic cages and instrumented with a stainless steel cannula in the cisterna magna and a femoral arterial catheter. A blood sample was drawn daily (200 microliters), and cerebrospinal fluid was collected by continuous 24-hour withdrawal (200 microliters/day). Daily sodium, potassium, and water balances were also determined. Rats were studied sequentially on 0.4%, 4%, and 8% sodium diets (7 days per sodium level). Mean arterial pressure increased with 4% NaCl from 107 to 120 mm Hg (p less than 0.05) over 24 hours in DS rats and remained at about that level until the NaCl was increased to 8%, which resulted in a gradual rise of mean arterial pressure over the next 7 days to 135 mm Hg. Cerebrospinal fluid sodium was unchanged in DR and Sprague-Dawley rats fed 4% or 8% sodium, but in DS rats rose from 152.3 to 155.2 +/- 0.6 meq/l on the third day at 4% sodium and remained elevated over the next 2 weeks of study. Blood sodium was unchanged throughout the study in all groups. On the first day only of the 4% and 8% sodium diets, both DS and DR rats exhibited a similar net retention of sodium, which was greater than the Sprague-Dawley rats (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sodium appetite and cerebrospinal fluid sodium concentration during hypovolemia

A lowered concentration of sodium in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been suggested as a critical signal for the elicitation of sodium appetite. This was evaluated in naive male Long-Evans rats made hypovolemic by subcutaneous injection of the colloid polyethylene glycol (PEG) in a hyperoncotic concentration. At 2, 5 or 8 h after PEG or vehicle injection, under conditions of availability or non-availability of water and 0.3 M NaCl for ingestion, the rats were anesthetized and samples of CSF and blood were taken. Water intakes of the PEG treated rats were elevated at 5 and 8 h, and 0.3 M NaCl intakes were elevated at 8 h in comparison to vehicle treated rats. When fluids were not available, CSF sodium concentrations were greater in PEG than in vehicle treated rats at 2, 5 and 8 h. When fluids were available, CSF sodium concentrations were greater in PEG than in vehicle treated rats at 5 and at 8 h. There was no correlation between CSF sodium concentration and saline intake. In summary, a lowered CSF sodium concentration is not a necessary condition for sodium appetite in the hypovolemic rat.

Water and salt intake of wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus (L)) following dipsogenic stimuli

Wild rabbits trapped in their natural habitat and adapted to laboratory conditions were studied. Food, water and electrolyte (0.5 M-NaCl, 0.5 M-KCl, 0.25 M-MgCl2 and 0.25 M-CaCl2) consumption, urinary volume and sodium losses were monitored daily following stimuli which were found dipsogenic in other species. Water drinking was observed immediately after the intravenous injection of 1 M-NaCl (3 ml/kg), and following withdrawal of a mean of 13.9% of calculated blood volume. Daily intake of water decreased during intracerebroventricular (I.C.V.) infusion of 0.3 M-NaCl in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (c.s.f.), during I.C.V. infusion of 0.9 M-mannitol c.s.f., both at a rate of 17 microliters/h, following peritoneal dialysis with 5% (w/v) glucose solution, and during food restriction. Water intake was not affected following intravenous administration of acetazolamide (10 mg/kg). Daily intake of 0.5 M-NaCl solution was increased following peritoneal dialysis with 5% (w/v) glucose solution, which caused hyponatraemia, but not after haemorrhage which caused about the same sodium deficit as peritoneal dialysis, but as an isosmotic loss. Administration of two different angiotensin II analogues, systemically or I.C.V., failed to induce water drinking. However, urinary sodium excretion and intake of 0.5 M-NaCl were increased during the 5 days of I.C.V. infusion of angiotensin II (10 pmol/h). Infusion for 1 day of angiotensin II (500 pmol/h) led to increased urinary sodium excretion which was followed by increased intake. The intake of other electrolyte solutions was not significantly affected by any of the treatments detailed above. The mechanisms participating in initiation of thirst in wild rabbits are very sensitive to decrease in blood volume, in contrast to other species studied in laboratories. Angiotensin II at the doses and routes administered was not dipsogenic in wild rabbits. The increased intake of 0.5 M-NaCl solution observed during and after the long-term intraventricular administration of angiotensin II in the wild rabbit appears predominantly a response to sodium deficit caused by natriuresis. The persistence of appetite after the cessation of infusion is indicative of a residual effect on central mechanisms of salt appetite.