CO2 asphyxia increases plasma norepinephrine in rats via sympathetic nerves.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the plasma norepinephrine (NE) increase in rats exposed to CO2 asphyxia was due to adrenal gland release or sympathetic nerve ending (SNS) release. Plasma NE was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in hypertensive and normotensive rats using the following protocol: control session, CO2 exposure, N2 exposure, reserpine + CO2, and adrenalectomy + CO2. Four strains of male and female rats were used: spontaneously hypertensive rats, Wistar-Kyoto rats, and two congenic strains with different Y chromosomes. The same rats were used throughout the experiment ( n = 80). Blood pressure measured by aortic telemetry increased ∼50-60 mmHg in response to CO2 in all strains. CO2 increased NE 6-10× in all strains and both genders. N2 produced a significant increase in NE (73% of CO2 response). Reserpine significantly decreased (67%) plasma NE after CO2. Adrenalectomy did not significantly reduce the NE response to CO2. In conclusion, the increase in plasma NE after CO2 was associated with SNS release and not adrenal medullary release, was mainly due to hypoxia, and was not a specific response to CO2.