Functional studies on sciatic nerve blood flow in respect to its vascular supply and tonic neural activity.

An introduction of laser flow meters for a continuous measurements of a tissue blood flow has opened new avenues for an accurate assessment blood flow in peripheral nerves. The aim of our study was: 1) to carry out a functional verification of anatomical sources of a sciatic nerve blood supply in the rat; 2) develop a measurement technique to facilitate standardisation of results; 3) to determine the role of nerve fibres tonic activity in the maintenance of a resting blood flow in the sciatic nerve. Based on results of the present study the following conclusions have been drawn out: 1) in order to obtain a real values of the blood flow through the sciatic nerve it is necessary to remove its muscular fascia; 2) an uninjured epineurium plays a crucial role in maintaining the resting blood flow; 3) major blood supply of sciatic nerve comes from inferior gluteal and popliteal arteries; 4) the tonic neural activity plays a role in the maintenance of the resting sciatic nerve blood flow in anaesthetised rats.

The adrenal renal vascular connection plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of renovascular hypertension in the rat.

The adrenal renal portal circulation (ARPC) contributes to decrease in renal blood flow occurring after renal artery clipping. The aim of present study was to determine the role of the ARPC in the development of the renovascular hypertension in 1-kidney 1-clip model in the rat. Experiments were performed on male Wistar rats. In the control group (A) the right nephrectomy and adrenalectomy were done. In the experimental groups renovascular hypertension was produced by clipping the left renal artery (silver clip ID 0.40 mm). In the first of the experimental groups (B) the right nephrectomy and adrenalectomy were done. In the second experimental group (C), for elimination of the ARPC, the right kidney and the left adrenal gland were removed. In the half number of rats from each group plasma renin activity was measured 48 hours after surgery. An increase in SBP was significantly higher in the group B (ARPC intact) than in the group C (ARPC eliminated) (172 +/- 4 vs 144 +/- 2 mmHg, p.<0.01). PRA was significantly higher in the group C than in the group B (39.0 +/- 1.4 vs 31.2 +/- 2.0 mmol/l/min, p.<0.05). In the control group (A) PRA was significantly lower as compared to the both experimental group (2.0 +/- 1.6 mmol/l/min, p.<0.05).

Arterial hypertension due to occlusion of the adrenal vein in the rat is strain-dependent.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the development of arterial hypertension due to occlusion of the central adrenal vein in the rat is strain-dependent DESIGN AND METHODS: The experiments were performed on male rats weighing 300-400 g each, of the following strains: Wistar outbred, Wistar Glaxo, Lewis, Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats bred for high blood pressure (138 +/- 13.2 mmHg), WKY rats bred without the control of blood pressure (118 +/- 12.9 mmHg) and borderline hypertensive rats (BHR). BHR were the F1 spontaneously hypertensive rat and WKY rat crossbred rats. In order to increase blood flow through the adrenal-renal portal circulation, both central adrenal veins of rats in the experimental group were occluded. The systolic blood pressure was measured indirectly by a photoelectric method. RESULTS: By the ninth day after surgery systolic blood pressure had increased significantly only in the WKY rats bred for high blood pressure and BHR, reaching maximal values on 12th day for WKY rats bred for high blood pressure (167 +/- 5 mmHg) and on the 18th day for BHR (170 +/- 14 mmHg). CONCLUSIONS: These data show that the development of arterial hypertension due to augmentation of adrenal blood flow through adrenal-renal portal circulation occurs in rats of strains with a genetic background of hypertension.

Adrenal-renal portal circulation contributes to decrease in renal blood flow after renal artery stenosis in rats.

The aim of the present study was to investigate a role of adrenal-renal portal circulation (ARPC) in a decrease in renal blood flow due to acute stenosis of the renal artery in rats. Animals were divided into three groups. In the control group (I), in order to eliminate the ARPC tissue between the adrenal gland and the ipsilateral kidney was cut. In the second and the third group (II) (III), left renal artery was stenosed by a silver clip (ID 0.40 mm). Then, in the group II, ARPC was surgically eliminated. In the group II, prior to the elimination of ARPC, alpha-adrenergic receptors blockade was produced by phentolamine administration. In the control group, ARPC elimination did not influence either renal blood flow (RBF) or renal vascular resistance (RVR). In the group II, elimination of ARPC caused increase in RBF and decrease in RVR In the group III elimination of ARPC influenced neither RBF nor renal vascular resistance (RVR). Results of the present study provide the functional evidence that catecholamines reaching the kidney through ARPC, contribute to the decrease in RBF and increase in RVR during acute renal artery stenosis in the rat.

High renin arterial hypertension due to occlusion of the adrenal veins in the rat.

The direct adreno-renal vascular connection allows precise control of the kidney function by hormones produced by the adrenal gland, without any significant changes in their content in the whole blood. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of the increased blood flow through the vascular network on the blood pressure. In twelve Wistar rats the central adrenal veins were ligated bilaterally. This procedure resulted in chronic increase in systolic blood pressure. This model of arterial hypertension is characterized by high plasma renin activity and normal aldosterone plasma concentration.

[Anatomic study of the direct vascular connection between the adrenal gland and kidney in humans]. / Badania anatomiczne nad bezposrednim polaczeniem naczyniowym miedzy nadnerczem i nerka u czlowieka.

The study was performed on 16 specimens containing adrenal gland and kidney obtained at route autopsy. The mixture of gelatin and india ink was injected into adrenal artery, through the catheter. In all specimens vessels leaving adrenal gland and entering cortex of kidney were found. Therefore, we conclude that alike other species also in humans, the adrenal-renal mirabile does exist.