Alterations of synaptic transmission in sympathetic ganglia of spontaneously hypertensive rats

An enhanced sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) has been implicated in the development and maintenance of the hypertension observed in experimental animal models such as the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Recent evidence suggests that an alteration of sympathetic synaptic transmission could also play a significant role in the elevation of SNA observed in the SHR (J. C. Magee and G. G. Schofield. Hypertension Dallas 20: 367-373, 1992). To test this hypothesis, we used intracellular recordings from superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons to compare properties of synaptic transmission between SHRs and two normotensive controls [Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Wistar rats]. Supramaximal preganglionic stimulation elicited larger amplitude fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and currents (EPSCs) in SHR sympathetic neurons compared with the normotensive controls. Analysis of variance of both compound and unitary EPSC amplitudes suggests that an increase in transmitter release is responsible for the elevated EPSP amplitude in these neurons. Also, a diminished short-term facilitation and an elevated synaptic depression limit the ability of SHR preganglionic neurons to increase transmitter release during short trains of repetitive stimuli. It is hypothesized that an enhanced transmitter depletion results in the altered synaptic plasticity of SHR sympathetic ganglion neurons. Intracellular recordings in low-Ca2+, high-Mg2+ external solutions support this idea. Therefore, synaptic transmission between the preganglionic and postganglionic neurons of SCGs from hypertensive rats was found to be altered in a manner that would tend to enhance sympathetic nervous activity, further implicating an exaggerated SNA in the pathogenesis of hypertension in the SHR model.