Normal sheep or sheep in which the renal nerves had been extirpated were deprived of water for 2 days in order to determine whether changes in renal nerve activity contribute to natriuresis during water deprivation. Both groups of sheep showed a considerable natriuresis throughout the period of water deprivation and increases in plasma osmolality and plasma Na concentration. Renal denervation, as indicated by the absence of catecholamine fluorescence in kidney sections, was extensive. Previous experiments have suggested cerebral involvement in the induction of dehydration-induced natriuresis. The present results indicate that the efferent pathway mediating this cerebral influence on renal sodium excretion does not involve the renal nerves, suggesting a hormonal mechanism as the likely pathway.
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