VASOMOTOR, CELLULAR AND FUNCTIONAL CHANGES PRODUCED IN KIDNEY BY BRAIN STIMULATION

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Abstract
In cats, electrical stimulation of the anterior sigmoid gyri in acute expts. resulted in transient elevations of blood pressure associated with pronounced renal cortical ischemia. This vasomotor response in the kidney was demonstrated by direct visualization under white light; by injn. of fluorescein soln. and observing the kidney under u.-v. light; and by intra-arterial injn. of India ink suspension at the height of the pressor response. These pressor and renal vasomotor effects were greatly exaggerated when the brain was stimulated through the intact cranium with the Brief Stimulus Therapy Apparatus (Offner). Renal denervation essentially abolished the ischemic changes in the kidney. In acute expts. following 10-15 stimulations of the cerebral cortex directly or of the brain with the BST apparatus, there was fatty degeneration of the renal tubule cells. In animals receiving 19 or more stimulations with the BST apparatus in acute expts., the renal tubule cells exhibited pyknosis and fragmentation of the nuclei as well as severe fatty degeneration. Following multiple stimulations of the brain with the BST apparatus in chronic expts. lasting 1-6 weeks, there were pathological changes in the kidneys presenting a picture of lower nephron nephrosis. These changes are probably the result of repeated arteriolar vasoconstriction leading to tissue anoxia and alterations in capillary permeability.
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