Improvement in baroreflex control of renal sympathetic nerve activity in obese Sprague Dawley rats following immunosuppression

Aim This investigation explored the hypothesis that in obesity an inflammatory response in the kidney contributed to a renal nerve-dependent blunting of the baroreflex regulation of renal sympathetic nerve activity. Methods Rats received a normal (12%Kcal) or high-fat (45%Kcal) diet for 8 weeks plus daily injections of vehicle (0.9% NaCl i.p) or tacrolimus (0.25mg kg−1day−1i.p) from weeks 3-8. Following anaesthesia, left renal sympathetic nerve activity was recorded, baroreflex gain curves were generated, by infusing phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside, and cardiopulmonary baroreceptors challenged by infusing a saline load. Results The high-fat diet elevated weight gain and adiposity index by 89 and 129% (both, P