Increased renal sympathetic nerve activity leads to hypertension and renal dysfunction in offspring from diabetic mothers.

The exposure of the fetus to a hyperglycemic environment promotes the development of hypertension and renal dysfunction in the offspring at adult age. We evaluated the role of renal nerves in the hypertension and renal changes seen in offspring of diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in female Wistar rats (streptozotocin, 60 mg/kg ip) before mating. Male offspring from control and diabetic dams were studied at an age of 3 mo. Systolic blood pressure measured by tail cuff was increased in offspring of diabetic dams (146 ± 1.6 mmHg, n = 19, compared with 117 ± 1.4 mmHg, n = 18, in controls). Renal function, baseline renal sympathetic nerve activity (rSNA), and arterial baroreceptor control of rSNA were analyzed in anesthetized animals. Glomerular filtration rate, fractional sodium excretion, and urine flow were significantly reduced in offspring of diabetic dams. Two weeks after renal denervation, blood pressure and renal function in offspring from diabetic dams were similar to control, suggesting that renal nerves contribute to sodium retention in offspring from diabetic dams. Moreover, basal rSNA was increased in offspring from diabetic dams, and baroreceptor control of rSNA was impaired, with blunted responses to infusion of nitroprusside and phenylephrine. Thus, data from this study indicate that in offspring from diabetic mothers, renal nerves have a clear role in the etiology of hypertension; however, other factors may also contribute to this condition.

Mecanismos neurais da aldosterona no controle cardiovascular e do equilíbrio hidroeletrolítico: [revisão] / Central nervous system and aldosterone: role on cardiovascular control and hydro-electrolytic homeostasis: [review]

A aldosterona é o mais importante mineralocorticóide circulante. É secretada pela zona glomerulosa da glândula adrenal e atua em orgãos-alvo tais como os rins, cólon, glândulas salivares e sudoríparas por meio de mecanismos genômicos, a fim de manter o equilíbrio hidroeletrolítico do organismo. Mais recentemente vêm surgindo novas descobertas sobre as ações da aldosterona, as quais não se mostram restritas aos alvos clássicos de sua ação. Orgãos como coração, vasos e muitos locais do sistema nervoso central (SNC), são apontados como novos alvos da ação da aldosterona, mostrando efeitos fisiológicos bem como fisiopatológicos, que na maioria das vezes relacionam-se a mecanismos não-genômicos. Os principais efeitos da aldosterona nesses novos alvos incluem: estimulação do apetite ao sódio (Na+), aumento da pressão arterial basal, prejuízo do barorreflexo arterial e produção de hipertrofia e fibrose no tecido cardíaco. Esses novos achados enaltecem o papel da aldosterona como o hormônio-chave no controle cardiovascular. No entanto, os mecanismos envolvidos na produção desses efeitos permanecem desconhecidos e novos estudos são necessários para o seu completo entendimento. O principal objetivo desta revisão será sumariar diversos estudos que indicam o envolvimento da aldosterona nos mecanismos de controle cardiovascular e do equilíbrio hidroeletrolítico do organismo.

Aldosterone is the most important circulating mineralocorticoid. It is secreted by the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal gland and acts on target tissues such as the kidney, colon, salivary and sweat glands by genomic mechanisms to maintain water and salt balance. More recently it has become clear that aldosterone also acts on tissues not directly involved in regulation of water and salt balance. Tissues like the heart, the vascular wall, and the central nervous system (CNS) are targets for aldosterone, which exerts its physiologic and pathophysiologic effects through both genomic and non-genomic mechanisms. The effects of aldosterone on these non-classical targets include sodium appetite, hypertension, impaired baroreceptor reflex, and cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. These findings reinforce the importance of aldosterone as a key cardiovascular hormone. The mechanisms that mediate these non-classical effects remain a subject of intense study. This paper reviews the involvement of aldosterone in neural mechanisms that control the cardiovascular system and water and salt balance.