High salt intake augments excitability of PVN neurons in rats: Role of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ store

High salt (HS) intake sensitizes central autonomic circuitry leading to sympathoexcitation. However, its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We hypothesized that inhibition of PVN endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca²⁺ store function would augment PVN neuronal excitability and sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). We further hypothesized that a 2% (NaCl) HS diet for 5 weeks would reduce ER Ca²⁺ store function and increase excitability of PVN neurons with axon projections to the rostral ventrolateral medulla (PVN-RVLM) identified by retrograde label. PVN microinjection of the ER Ca²⁺ ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin (TG) increased SNA and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in a dose-dependent manner in rats with a normal salt (NS) diet (0.4%NaCl). In contrast, sympathoexcitatory responses to PVN TG were significantly (p < 0.05) blunted in HS treated rats compared to NS treatment. In whole cell current-clamp recordings from PVN-RVLM neurons, graded current injections evoked graded increases in spike frequency. Maximum discharge was significantly augmented (p < 0.05) by HS diet compared to NS group. Bath application of TG (0.5 μM) increased excitability of PVN-RVLM neurons in NS (p < 0.05), yet had no significant effect in HS rats. Our data indicate that HS intake augments excitability of PVN-RVLM neurons. Inhibition of the ER Ca²⁺-ATPase and depletion of Ca²⁺ store likely plays a role in increasing PVN neuronal excitability, which may underlie the mechanisms of sympathoexcitation in rats with chronic HS intake.