A. Basal lumbar sympathetic nerve activity (LSNA) in four groups of rats, sham, CHF, sham+CAP, and CHF+CAP. B. Raw tracings of changes in LSNA, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) to administration of NOS inhibitor L-NMMA (200 pmol) in the PVN of four groups of rats. C. Summary data for the effect of L-NMMA in the PVN on changes in LSNA, MAP and HR in the four groups of rats. Data are presented as mean ± SE. *P < 0.05 vs. sham; #P < 0.05 vs. without capsaicin.