Acute Fulminating Neurogenic Hypertension Produced by Brainstem Lesions in the Rat

Abstract

Bilateral electrolytic lesions of the nucleus tractus solitarii in the rat at the level of the obex abolished baroreceptor reflexes and resulted in an immediate, marked elevation in systemic blood pressure without a change in heart rate. In unanesthetized rats the hypertension was associated with a marked increase in total peripheral resistance, a reduction in blood flow in the abdominal aorta, and an increase in central venous pressure. The cardiac output was reduced to 62% of control as a consequence of reduced stroke volume, which was reflected, in turn, by increased end-diastolic pressure. The hypertension was abolished and the end-diastolic pressure lowered by blockade of alpha receptors with phentolamine. The hypertension was not due to changes in blood gases or to release of agents from the kidneys or the adrenal glands; it was very sensitive to anesthetics and was abolished or aborted by midcollicular decerebration. Within hours after lesioning, the rats developed progressive congestive heart failure and died in shock, often in association with pulmonary edema. We concluded that the fulminating hypertension evoked by lesions of the nucleus tractus solitarii was due to the increased vasoconstriction caused by the augmented discharge of sympathetic nerves in response to central deafferentation of baroreceptor reflexes; the hypertension was mediated by alpha receptors and depended on the integrity of structures lying above the midbrain.