[Na+] Increases in Body Fluids Sensed by Central Nax Induce Sympathetically Mediated Blood Pressure Elevations via H+-Dependent Activation of ASIC1a

Summary Increases in sodium concentrations ([Na + ]) in body fluids elevate blood pressure (BP) by enhancing sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). However, the mechanisms by which information on increased [Na + ] is translated to SNA have not yet been elucidated. We herein reveal that sympathetic activation leading to BP increases is not induced by mandatory high salt intakes or the intraperitoneal/intracerebroventricular infusions of hypertonic NaCl solutions in Na x -knockout mice in contrast to wild-type mice. We identify Na x channels expressed in specific glial cells in the organum vasculosum lamina terminalis (OVLT) as the sensors detecting increases in [Na + ] in body fluids and show that OVLT neurons projecting to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) are activated via acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) by H + ions exported from Na x -positive glial cells. The present results provide an insight into the neurogenic mechanisms responsible for salt-induced BP elevations.