Fig. 4

Changes (means with standard errors) of cardiac (CSNA) and renal (RSNA) sympathetic activities induced by injection of live Escherichia coli (time 0) to produce a presumably non-lethal septic shock in conscious sheep equipped with chronically implanted recording electrodes. Note opposing changes of CSNA and RSNA during the early hours of septicemia when mean arterial pressure (MAP) had not yet changed. Heart rate (HR) approximately follows CSNA. Initial depression of renal sympathetic activity is accompanied by an increase in renal blood flow determined in separate experiments (not shown) which persists, however, during the subsequent re-increase of renal sympathetic activity to an elevated level. During the first 10 h after infection, urine output seems to be inversely correlated with the level of renal sympathetic activity. Asterisks indicate significant effects over time. From Ramchandra et al. [66]