Differentiated responses of renal and adrenal sympathetic nerve activity to intravenous morphine administration in anesthetized rats.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of i.v. morphine on sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in the rat. Adrenal SNA and renal SNA were recorded simultaneously, together with mean arterial pressure and heart rate, in chloralose-anesthetized, artificially ventilated rats. Separate groups of rats were subjected to vagotomy. In intact rats, i.v. injection of morphine (1 mg/kg) caused an immediate transient depressor response. Within 1-3 sec, renal SNA was markedly inhibited in parallel with hypotension and bradycardia. After a few minutes, mean arterial pressure and renal SNA returned toward base-line levels, and subsequently they declined gradually again below base line. Adrenal SNA, however, showed an immediate brief increase. In the vagotomized rats, an extended renal SNA excitation occurred, accompanied by a rise in mean arterial pressure. After about 15 min, these variables returned toward base-line levels. The adrenal SNA excitation still occurred in the vagotomized rats. The renal depressor and the renal and adrenal pressor responses were all abolished by naloxone pretreatment. It is concluded that i.v. injection of morphine induces a highly differentiated response of SNA. A pronounced immediate increase in adrenal SNA occurs in parallel with renal SNA inhibition. The renal nerve inhibition is mainly reflexly obtained by opioid receptor-mediated activation of vagal afferents. The predominant central action of morphine seems to be sympathetic excitation which is also mediated through opioid receptors.