Sympathoinhibition to Bezold–Jarisch reflex is attenuated in protein malnourished rats

Abstract

Malnutrition affects cardiovascular reflexes, including chemoreflex and baroreflex. In this study we assessed the hypothesis that malnourishment changes the responses in mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) evoked from Bezold–Jarisch reflex (BJR). Fischer rats were fed diets containing either (6% malnourished or 14% control) protein for 35 days after weaning. There were no differences in baseline MAP (102 ± 4 vs. 95 ± 3 mmHg) whereas higher baseline HR (478 ± 18 vs. 360 ± 11 bpm; P < 0.05,) and reduced sympathoinhibition (ΔRSNA = −54 ± 9 vs. −84 ± 7%; P = 0.0208) to BJR activation were found in malnourished rats. We conclude that malnutrition affects the sympathetic control of BJR.