The role of renal nerves in the diuresis and natriuresis caused by stimulation of atrial receptors.

The diuretic response to stimulation of left atrial receptors by distending balloons located either at the pulmonary vein-left atrial junctions or in the body of the left atrium, was studied in anaesthetized dogs in which one kidney had been surgically denervated. In these dogs diuretic and natriuretic responses to stimulation of atrial receptors were obtained in the denervated and the intact kidney; both responses were significantly greater in the intact kidney than in the denervated kidney. In the denervated kidney the natriuretic response showed a significant correlation to increases in heart rate resulting from stimulation of atrial receptors. It is concluded that the renal nerves contribute significantly to the increases in urine flow and sodium excretion in response to stimulation of atrial receptors. In the denervated kidney, the diuresis appeared to be mediated by a humoral mechanism and the natriuresis was associated with concomitant increases in heart rate.