scholarly journals Hypothalamic mTORC1 Signaling Controls Sympathetic Nerve Activity and Arterial Pressure and Mediates Leptin Effects

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon M. Harlan ◽  
Deng-Fu Guo ◽  
Donald A. Morgan ◽  
Caroline Fernandes-Santos ◽  
Kamal Rahmouni
Hypertension ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine L Oltman ◽  
Kenjiro Muta ◽  
Brian L Dake ◽  
Donald A Morgan ◽  
Kamal Rahmouni

Neurogenic mechanisms play a major role in obesity-induced increase in sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and arterial pressure, but the molecular pathways involved remain ill defined. Mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling in the hypothalamus has emerged as a critical molecular regulator of SNA, vascular function and arterial pressure. To analyze the status of hypothalamic mTORC1 signaling in obesity we compared the phosphorylated levels of ribosomal protein S6, a downstream effector of mTORC1, in the brain between obesity prone (OP) and obesity resistant (OR) rats. Body weight was elevated (P<0.05) in OP rats (763±22 g) relative to OR rats (575±19 g). OP rats also had higher fat mass. Interestingly, OP rats exhibited increased phospho-S6 in the mediobasal hypothalamus including the arcuate nucleus, but not in other nuclei such as the paraventricular nucleus, the supraoptic nucleus or the subfornical organ. Next, we assessed the hemodynamic and sympathetic parameters in OP and OR rats. Radiotelemetry systolic arterial pressure was greater in OP rats (133±1 mmHg) compared to OR rats (119±2 mmHg) at 8 weeks of age and remained elevated at 42 weeks of age. Ganglionic blockade with hexamethonium produced a dose-dependent decrease in arterial pressure in both the OP and OR rats, but the response was more pronounced (P<0.05) in OP rats. Direct SNA recording revealed elevated (P<0.05) renal and splanchnic SNA in OP rats (86±3 and 55±6 spikes/sec, respectively) compared to OR rats (48±2 and 22±4 spikes/sec). Using ultrasound Doppler, we found that OP rats have altered regional blood flows. Sodium nitroprusside-induced dilation was attenuated and phenylephrine-evoked constriction was potentiated in the hindquarters vasculature of OP rats relative to OR rats. However, there were no differences in the renal, mesenteric or abdominal aorta vascular beds. Acetylcholine (ACh)-mediated relaxation was impaired in isolated coronary arteries from OP rats (relaxation to 10 μM ACh: 41±8% in OP rats vs 67±10% in OR rats, P<0.05). These studies raise the possibility that overactivation of hypothalamic mTORC1 signaling contributes to the altered hemodynamic, sympathetic and vascular functions associated with the obesity prone phenotype.


1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (1) ◽  
pp. H27-H32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Kulics ◽  
Heidi L. Collins ◽  
Stephen E. DiCarlo

Mean arterial pressure (MAP), the product of cardiac output (CO) and total peripheral resistance (TPR), is reduced below preexercise levels after a single bout of mild to moderate dynamic exercise. Thus acute, dynamic exercise may be used as a safe, therapeutic approach to reduce MAP. However, the mechanisms responsible for the postexercise hypotension (PEH) are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that PEH is associated with reductions in TPR and sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). Two experimental protocols were designed to test this hypothesis in male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In protocol 1( n = 9), CO and TPR were determined before, during, and after exercise. In protocol 2 ( n = 7), lumbar SNA (LSNA) was recorded before and after exercise. Rats in protocol 1 were chronically instrumented with left carotid arterial catheters and ascending aortic Doppler ultrasonic flow probes. Rats in protocol 2 were chronically instrumented with left carotid arterial catheters and electrodes around the lumbar sympathetic trunk. Dynamic treadmill exercise (9–12 m/min, 10% grade for 40 min) resulted in a postexercise reduction in MAP (from 143 ± 5 to 128 ± 4 mmHg, P < 0.05). Associated with the PEH was a reduction in TPR (from 28 ± 3 to 19 ± 2 mmHg/kHz; P < 0.05) and an elevation in CO (from 5.7 ± 0.4 to 7.2 ± 0.5 kHz; P < 0.05). The reductions in arterial pressure and TPR were associated with a decrease in LSNA (from 98 ± 3 to 49 ± 6%; P < 0.05). These results suggest that PEH is mediated by reductions in TPR and SNA.


2009 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 1050-1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscila A. Cassaglia ◽  
Robert I. Griffiths ◽  
Adrian M. Walker

Sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in neurons projecting to skeletal muscle blood vessels increases during rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, substantially exceeding SNA of non-REM (NREM) sleep and quiet wakefulness (QW). Similar SNA increases to cerebral blood vessels may regulate the cerebral circulation in REM sleep, but this is unknown. We hypothesized that cerebral SNA increases during phasic REM sleep, constricting cerebral vessels as a protective mechanism against cerebral hyperperfusion during the large arterial pressure surges that characterize this sleep state. We tested this hypothesis using a newly developed model to continuously record SNA in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) before, during, and after arterial pressure surges occurring during REM in spontaneously sleeping lambs. Arterial pressure (AP), intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral vascular resistance [CVR = (AP − ICP)/CBF], and SNA from the SCG were recorded in lambs ( n = 5) undergoing spontaneous sleep-wake cycles. In REM sleep, CBF was greatest (REM > QW = NREM, P < 0.05) and CVR was least (REM < QW = NREM, P < 0.05). SNA in the SCG did not change from QW to NREM sleep but increased during tonic REM sleep, with a further increase during phasic REM sleep (phasic REM > tonic REM > QW = NREM, P < 0.05). Coherent averaging revealed that SNA increases preceded AP surges in phasic REM sleep by 12 s ( P < 0.05). We report the first recordings of cerebral SNA during natural sleep-wake cycles. SNA increases markedly during tonic REM sleep, and further in phasic REM sleep. As SNA increases precede AP surges, they may serve to protect the brain against potentially damaging intravascular pressure changes or hyperperfusion in REM sleep.


2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
C J Charles ◽  
D L Jardine ◽  
M G Nicholls ◽  
A M Richards

The sympathetic nervous system and adrenomedullin (AM) both participate in the regulation of cardiac and circulatory function but their interaction remains uncertain. We have examined the effects of AM on cardiac sympathetic nerve activity (CSNA) and hemodynamics and contrasted these effects with pressure-matched nitro-prusside (NP) administration in normal conscious sheep. Compared with vehicle control, arterial pressure fell similarly with AM (P=0.04) and NP (P<0.001). Heart rate rose in response to both AM (P<0.001) and NP (P=0.002) but the rise with AM was significantly greater than that induced by NP (P<0.001). Cardiac output increased in response to AM compared with both control and NP (both P<0.001). CSNA burst frequency (bursts/min) were increased in response to both AM (P<0.001) and NP (P=0.005) with the rise in burst frequency being greater with AM compared with NP (P<0.001). CSNA burst area/min was also raised by both AM (P=0.03) and NP (P=0.002) with a trend for burst area being greater with AM than NP (P=0.07). CSNA burst incidence (bursts/100 beats) showed no significant differences between any treatment day. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that AM is associated with a greater increase in CSNA and heart rate for a given change in arterial pressure than seen with the classic balanced vasodilator NP.


1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 250-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Fluckiger ◽  
G. Gremaud ◽  
B. Waeber ◽  
A. Kulik ◽  
A. Ichino ◽  
...  

A new system was developed in our laboratory to continuously monitor intra-arterial pressure, heart rate, and sympathetic nerve activity in unanesthetized rats. The animals were prepared 24 h before the start of the experiments. Sympathoneural traffic was measured at the level of splanchnic nerve. The amplitude of the spikes recorded at this level was utilized to express sympathetic nerve activity. The amplitude of the residual electroneurogram signal present 30 min after the rats were killed was 32 +/- 2 mV (mean +/- SE; n = 11). For analysis, these background values were subtracted from values determined in vivo. The nerve we studied contains postganglionic fibers, since electrical activity decreased in response to ganglionic blockade with pentolinium (1.25 mg/min iv for 4 min). The amplitude of spikes fell by 43 +/- 4% (n = 4). Sympathetic nerve activity was highly reproducible at a 24-h interval (104 +/- 26 vs. 111 +/- 27 mV for the amplitude of spikes; n = 11). Dose-response curves to the alpha 1-stimulant methoxamine and to bradykinin were established in four rats. The increase in blood pressure induced by methoxamine caused a dose-dependent fall in sympathetic nerve activity, whereas the blood pressure reduction resulting from bradykinin was associated with a dose-dependent activation of sympathetic drive. These data therefore indicate that it is possible with out system to accurately measure sympathetic nerve activity in the awake rat, together with intra-arterial pressure and heart rate.


2007 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 1034-1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valérie Oréa ◽  
Roy Kanbar ◽  
Bruno Chapuis ◽  
Christian Barrès ◽  
Claude Julien

This study examined the possible influence of changes in heart rate (HR) on the gain of the transfer function relating renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) to arterial pressure (AP) at HR frequency in rats. In seven urethane-anesthetized rats, AP and RSNA were recorded under baseline conditions (spontaneous HR = 338 ± 6 beats/min, i.e., 5.6 ± 0.1 Hz) and during 70-s periods of cardiac pacing at 6–9 Hz applied in random order. Cardiac pacing slightly increased mean AP (0.8 ± 0.2 mmHg/Hz) and decreased pulse pressure (−3.6 ± 0.3 mmHg/Hz) while leaving the mean level of RSNA essentially unaltered ( P = 0.680, repeated-measures ANOVA). The gain of the transfer function from AP to RSNA measured at HR frequency was always associated with a strong, significant coherence and was stable between 6 and 9 Hz ( P = 0.185). The transfer function gain measured under baseline conditions [2.44 ± 0.28 normalized units (NU)/mmHg] did not differ from that measured during cardiac pacing (2.46 ± 0.27 NU/mmHg). On the contrary, phase decreased linearly as a function of HR, which indicated the presence of a fixed time delay (97 ± 6 ms) between AP and RSNA. In conclusion, the dynamic properties of arterial baroreflex pathways do not affect the gain of the transfer function between AP and RSNA measured at HR frequency in the upper part of the physiological range of HR variations in the rat.


1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (5) ◽  
pp. R1289-R1293 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Fukuhara ◽  
T. Tsuchihashi ◽  
I. Abe ◽  
M. Fujishima

Adrenomedullin is a vasodilative peptide and shows slight homology with calcitonin gene-related peptide. In the present study, we investigated the effects of adrenomedullin on cardiovascular and neurohormonal responses in 13 conscious rabbits. The animals were chronically instrumented with bipolar electrodes on the left renal sympathetic nerve. Intravenous administration of human adrenomedullin (10, 100, 1,000, and 3,000 pmol/kg, n = 6) caused a dose-dependent reduction in mean arterial pressure (0 +/- 2, -1 +/- 2, -19 +/- 2, and -29 +/- 4 mmHg, respectively) concomitant with increases in heart rate, renal sympathetic nerve activity, plasma renin activity, and plasma norepinephrine. The significant reduction in mean arterial pressure induced by 1,000 pmol/kg of adrenomedullin occurred within 1 min after injection and lasted for 15 min (n = 7). In contrast, the significant increases in heart rate and renal sympathetic nerve activity lasted for more than 50 min. When mean arterial pressure was decreased by 15 mmHg by adrenomedullin, the increases in heart rate and renal sympathetic nerve activity were 53 +/- 8 beats/min and 78 +/- 13%, respectively, which were significantly smaller than those induced by intravenous injection of sodium nitroprusside (102 +/- 14 beats/min and 155 +/- 34%, respectively). These results suggest that intravenous adrenomedullin exerts a hypotensive action that is associated with the attenuated reflex-mediated sympathetic activation.


1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (5) ◽  
pp. H2446-H2452 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Miyano ◽  
T. Kawada ◽  
T. Shishido ◽  
T. Sato ◽  
M. Sugimachi ◽  
...  

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the dynamic baroreflex regulation of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity. In anesthetized rabbits, we imposed random pressure perturbations on the isolated carotid sinuses before and after the intravenous administration of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. We characterized the dynamic properties relating carotid sinus pressure input to sympathetic nerve activity by means of a transfer function analysis. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine decreased the corner frequency of the transfer function (0.100 +/- 0.054 vs. 0.074 +/- 0.035 Hz; P < 0.05), whereas other parameters such as the steady-state gain and transmission lag time remained unchanged. Although cursory examination of these findings would suggest a possible contribution of NO in the dynamic baroreflex regulation of sympathetic nerve activity, quantitative assessment of the transfer function reveals only a minimal effect on the baroreflex regulation of arterial pressure, particularly under closed-loop conditions. We conclude that NO noticeably affects the dynamic baroreflex regulation of sympathetic nerve activity. However, it may not significantly affect arterial pressure regulation through central modulation of the carotid sinus baroreflex.


2005 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 343-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renaud Tamisier ◽  
Amit Anand ◽  
Luz M. Nieto ◽  
David Cunnington ◽  
J. Woodrow Weiss

Sustained and episodic hypoxic exposures lead, by two different mechanisms, to an increase in ventilation after the exposure is terminated. Our aim was to investigate whether the pattern of hypoxia, cyclic or sustained, influences sympathetic activity and hemodynamics in the postexposure period. We measured sympathetic activity (peroneal microneurography), hemodynamics [plethysmographic forearm blood flow (FBF), arterial pressure, heart rate], and peripheral chemosensitivity in normal volunteers on two occasions during and after 2 h of either exposure. By design, mean arterial oxygen saturation was lower during sustained relative to cyclic hypoxia. Baseline to recovery muscle sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure went from 15.7 ± 1.2 to 22.6 ± 1.9 bursts/min ( P < 0.01) and from 85.6 ± 3.2 to 96.1 ± 3.3 mmHg ( P < 0.05) after sustained hypoxia, respectively, but did not exhibit significant change from 13.6 ± 1.5 to 17.3 ± 2.5 bursts/min and 84.9 ± 2.8 to 89.8 ± 2.5 mmHg after cyclic hypoxia. A significant increase in FBF occurred after sustained, but not cyclic, hypoxia, from 2.3 ± 0.2 to 3.29 ± 0.4 and from 2.2 ± 0.1 to 3.1 ± 0.5 ml·min−1·100 g of tissue−1, respectively. Neither exposure altered the ventilatory response to progressive isocapnic hypoxia. Two hours of sustained hypoxia increased not only muscle sympathetic nerve activity but also arterial blood pressure. In contrast, cyclic hypoxia produced slight but not significant changes in hemodynamics and sympathetic activity. These findings suggest the cardiovascular response to acute hypoxia may depend on the intensity, rather than the pattern, of the hypoxic exposure.


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