Plasticity of GABAergic control of hypothalamic presympathetic neurons in hypertension

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (3) ◽  
pp. H1110-H1119 ◽  
Author(s):  
De-Pei Li ◽  
Hui-Lin Pan

Increased sympathetic outflow contributes to the pathogenesis of hypertension. However, the mechanisms of increased sympathetic drive in hypertension remain unclear. We examined the tonic GABAergic inhibition in control of the excitability of paraventricular (PVN) presympathetic neurons in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive controls, including Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Whole cell patch-clamp recordings were performed on retrogradely labeled PVN neurons projecting to the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in brain slices. The basal firing rate of PVN neurons was significantly decreased in 13-wk-old SD and WKY rats but increased in 13-wk-old SHR, compared with their respective 6-wk-old controls. The GABAA antagonist bicuculline consistently increased the firing of PVN neurons in normotensive controls. Surprisingly, bicuculline either decreased the firing or had no effect in 59.3% of labeled cells in 13-wk-old SHR. In contrast, the GABAB antagonist CGP-55845 had no effect on the firing of PVN neurons in normotensive controls but significantly increased the firing of 75% of cells studied in 13-wk-old SHR. Furthermore, the evoked GABAA current decreased significantly in labeled PVN neurons of 13-wk-old SHR compared with that in normotensive controls. Both the frequency and amplitude of GABAergic spontaneously inhibitory postsynaptic currents were also reduced in 13-wk-old SHR. This study demonstrates an unexpected functional change in GABAA and GABAB receptors in regulation of the firing activity of PVN-RVLM neurons in SHR. This change in GABAA receptor function and GABAergic inputs to PVN output neurons may contribute to increased sympathetic outflow in hypertension.

1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (2) ◽  
pp. F325-F330 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Yang ◽  
Y. Terada ◽  
H. Nonoguchi ◽  
M. Tsujino ◽  
K. Tomita ◽  
...  

We investigated kallikrein-binding protein (KBP) mRNA distribution in the kidney of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and Wistar-Kyoto strain (WKY) rats. Northern blot analysis revealed that KBP mRNA was located mainly in the medulla and with lower amounts in SHR than in WKY rats. KBP mRNA in microdissected nephron segments was detected by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by Southern blot analysis. In SD rats, the most abundant signals were consistently found in inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD), with small amounts in outer medullary collecting duct, proximal convoluted tubule, and glomerulus. No signals were found in connecting tubule and cortical collecting duct. The nephron distribution of KBP mRNA was similar in WKY and SD rats. Only a small amount of signal was found, however, in IMCD of SHR. In conclusion, 1) KBP mRNA was predominantly distributed in the medullary segments of the distal nephron, downstream from the known kallikrein activity site in the collecting duct, and 2) KBP mRNA expression was significantly decreased in the kidney of SHR.


1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (1) ◽  
pp. F76-F83 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Rouse ◽  
J. Abramowitz ◽  
X. Zhou ◽  
T. Kamijo ◽  
J. Gonzalez ◽  
...  

The maintenance of intracellular ionized calcium (iCa2+) in the submicromolar range is important for mesangial cell (MC) function, and, as in most mammalian cells, plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPases (PMCA) play an important role in the homeostatic process. Molecular studies have demonstrated four PMCA isoforms, each with multiple splice variants. The present study examines the expression of PMCA isoforms and calmodulin-binding region splice variants in cultured MC from Sprague-Dawley rats and from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats before and after the onset of hypertension in SHR. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern blot analyses, we have demonstrated PMCA1, -3, and -4, but not PMCA2, to be present in MC from these rat strains. Splice variant analysis revealed PMCA1a and -1b, PMCA3a, -3b, and -3c, and PMCA4a and -4b to be expressed in MC from all three strains. The relative quantities of PMCA1 and PMCA4 mRNA were not different in age-matched SHR vs. WKY rats, correlating with similar iCa2+ measurements. The expression of all three isoforms declined with age in SHR and WKY.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiana A. Ogihara ◽  
Gerhardus H. M. Schoorlemmer ◽  
Maria de Fátima M. Lazari ◽  
Gisele Giannocco ◽  
Oswaldo U. Lopes ◽  
...  

Exercise training reduces sympathetic activity in hypertensive humans and rats. We hypothesized that the swimming exercise would change the neurotransmission in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), a key region involved in sympathetic outflow, and hemodynamic control in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Bilateral injections of kynurenic acid (KYN) were carried out in the RVLM in sedentary- (S-) or exercised- (E-) SHR and WKY rats submitted to swimming for 6  weeks. Rats wereα-chloralose anesthetized and artificially ventilated, with Doppler flow probes around the lower abdominal aorta and superior mesenteric artery. Injections into the RVLM were made before and after i.v. L-NAME (nitric oxide synthase, NOS, inhibitor). Injections of KYN into the RVLM elicited a major vasodilation in the hindlimb more than in the mesenteric artery in E-SHR compared to S-SHR, but similar decrease in arterial pressure was observed in both groups. Injections of KYN into the RVLM after i.v. L-NAME attenuated the hindlimb vasodilation evoked by KYN and increased the mesenteric vasodilation in E-SHR. Swimming exercise can enhance the hindlimb vasodilation mediated by peripheral NO release, reducing the activation of neurons with EAA receptors in the RVLM in SHR.


1990 ◽  
Vol 258 (4) ◽  
pp. H946-H953 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Price ◽  
F. R. Wilmoth

Body temperature (BT) was significantly greater in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) than in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats regardless of the time of day, length of rectal probe, sex, age, or commercial vendor. Bath temperature (theta) for excised aortic rings was controlled by a thermoelectric Peltier module with an accuracy of 0.1 degree C. At peak force in individual contractions of norepinephrine (NE) dose-response experiments, theta was changed from 37 to 39 degrees C. Active and resting wall tension (Tw) were increased, and the mean effective dose (ED50) was decreased in the SHR aorta with and without endothelium. For the WKY aorta, active and resting Tw were increased, but ED50 was the same with and without endothelium. These results were supported by experiments where theta was decreased from 39 to 37 degrees C and by experiments on Sprague-Dawley rats. Potassium dose-response experiments with aorta from SHR and WKY rats show an increase in sensitivity at 39 degrees C, but active Tw is the same at 39 and 37 degrees C. When compared at the BT of each rat, the NE ED50 was lower and resting Tw was higher in the SHR aorta than in the WKY aorta, but active Tw was the same.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (4) ◽  
pp. R1344-R1353 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Grove ◽  
J. Goncalves ◽  
S. Picard ◽  
G. Thibault ◽  
C. F. Deschepper

We compared the abundance and sensitivity of atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) receptors in the brains of spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and examined the effect of blood pressure on the abundance of brain ANP receptors in several other experimental rat models. Brain slices from SHR generated more guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate in response to ANP than brain slices from WKY rats. No differences were found in brain particulate guanylate cyclase activity in both strains of rats. In rat brain homogenates, we observed that ANP bound in a specific and saturable fashion to samples from WKY rats, but not in samples from SHR. In vitro receptor autoradiography revealed that ANP binding was reduced in the subfornical organ, the choroid plexus, and the paraventricular nucleus of SHR compared with WKY rat brains. Correction of hypertension in SHR or induction of hypertension in other strains did not affect ANP binding in any of these brain regions. Altogether, our data suggest that the increased sensitivity of SHR brains to the action of ANP may be a consequence of factors other than the abundance of receptors and that it is not secondary to the elevation of blood pressure.


2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (4) ◽  
pp. F1239-F1247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alaa E. S. Abdel-Razik ◽  
Richard J. Balment ◽  
Nick Ashton

Urotensin II (UII) has been implicated widely in cardiovascular disease. The mechanism(s) through which it contributes to elevated blood pressure is unknown, but its emerging role as a regulator of mammalian renal function suggests that the kidney might be involved. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of UII on renal function in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). UII infusion (6 pmol·min−1·100 g body wt−1) in anesthetized SHR and control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats produced marked reductions in glomerular filtration rate (ΔGFR WKY, n = 7, −0.3 ± 0.1 vs. SHR, n = 7, −0.6 ± 0.1 ml·min−1·100 g body wt−1, P = 0.03), urine flow, and sodium excretion rates, which were greater in SHR by comparison with WKY rats. WKY rats also showed an increase in fractional excretion of sodium (ΔFENa; +0.6 ± 0.1%, P = 0.02) in contrast to SHR in which no such change was observed (ΔFENa −0.6 ± 0.2%). Blockade of the UII receptor (UT), and thus endogenous UII activity, with urantide evoked an increase in GFR which was greater in SHR (+0.3 ± 0.1) compared with WKY rats (+0.1 ± 0.1 ml·min−1·100 g body wt−1, P = 0.04) and was accompanied by a diuresis and natriuresis. UII and UT mRNA expression were greater in the renal medulla than the cortex of both strains; however, expression levels were up to threefold higher in SHR tissue. SHR are more sensitive than WKY to UII, which acts primarily to lower GFR thus favoring salt retention in this model of hypertension.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhao-Fu Sheng ◽  
Hua Zhang ◽  
PeiRu Zheng ◽  
Shanyan Chen ◽  
Zezong Gu ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Elevated sympathetic outflow is associated with primary hypertension. However, the mechanisms involved in heightened sympathetic outflow in hypertension are unclear. The central amygdala (CeA) regulates autonomic components of emotions through projections to the brainstem. The neuronal Kv7 channel is a non-inactivating voltage-dependent K+ channel encoded by KCNQ2/3 genes involved in stabilizing the neuronal membrane potential and regulating neuronal excitability. In this study, we investigated if altered Kv7 channel activity in the CeA contributes to heightened sympathetic outflow in hypertension. Methods and results The mRNA and protein expression levels of Kv7.2/Kv7.3 in the CeA were significantly reduced in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) compared with Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats. Lowering blood pressure with coeliac ganglionectomy in SHRs did not alter Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 channel expression levels in the CeA. Fluospheres were injected into the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) to retrogradely label CeA neurons projecting to the RVLM (CeA–RVLM neurons). Kv7 channel currents recorded from CeA–RVLM neurons in brain slices were much smaller in SHRs than in WKY rats. Furthermore, the basal firing activity of CeA–RVLM neurons was significantly greater in SHRs than in WKY rats. Bath application of specific Kv7 channel blocker 10, 10-bis (4-pyridinylmethyl)-9(10H)-anthracnose (XE-991) increased the excitability of CeA–RVLM neurons in WKY rats, but not in SHRs. Microinjection of XE-991 into the CeA increased arterial blood pressure (ABP) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), while microinjection of Kv7 channel opener QO-58 decreased ABP and RSNA, in anaesthetized WKY rats but not SHRs. Conclusions Our findings suggest that diminished Kv7 channel activity in the CeA contributes to elevated sympathetic outflow in primary hypertension. This novel information provides new mechanistic insight into the pathogenesis of neurogenic hypertension.


1986 ◽  
Vol 251 (4) ◽  
pp. F655-F661 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Rudd ◽  
R. S. Grippo ◽  
W. J. Arendshorst

Clearance experiments were conducted to determine the effect of acute unilateral renal denervation (DNX) on renal hemodynamics and salt and water excretion in anesthetized 6-wk-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto genetic control rats (WKY). Before DNX, SHR had higher mean arterial pressure (33%) and renal vascular resistance (RVR) (57%) and lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (10%); urine flow and sodium excretion were similar. Following DNX in SHR, sodium and water excretion increased by 138 and 62%, respectively (P less than 0.001); GFR and RVR were unchanged. In contrast, DNX in WKY did not affect urine flow (0%) or sodium excretion (-21%). These strain differences were observed in Okamoto-Aoki rats from two sources. Effective DNX was indicated by 95% reduction of norepinephrine content 3 days after DNX in both strains. Six-week-old Sprague-Dawley and Munich-Wistar rats, in contrast to WKY, responded to DNX with a natriuresis (+182%) and diuresis (+95%) (P less than 0.001). Renal function was unaffected by sham DNX in SHR. Our results indicate that efferent renal nerve activity has little tonic influence on the renal vasculature in these young rats. Augmented neurotransmitter release and/or tubular responsiveness may be involved in fluid and electrolyte retention and the pathogenesis of hypertension in SHR. Conversely, blunted renal neuroeffector responses may prevent WKY from developing hypertension.


2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (2) ◽  
pp. R927-R936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamon Iigaya ◽  
Hiroo Kumagai ◽  
Hiroshi Onimaru ◽  
Akira Kawai ◽  
Naoki Oshima ◽  
...  

We used an optical imaging technique to investigate whether axons of neurons in the caudal end of the ventrolateral medulla (CeVLM), as well as axons of neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), project to neurons in the intermediolateral cell column (IML) of the spinal cord. Brain stem-spinal cord preparations from neonatal normotensive Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats were stained with a voltage-sensitive dye, and responses to electrical stimulation of the IML at the Th2 level were detected as changes in fluorescence intensity with an optical imaging apparatus (MiCAM-01). The results were as follows: 1) depolarizing responses to IML stimulation during low-Ca high-Mg superfusion were detected on the ventral surface of the medulla at the level of the CeVLM, as well as at the level of the RVLM, 2) depolarizing responses were also detected on cross sections at the level of the CeVLM, and they had a latency of 24.0 ± 5.5 (SD) ms, 3) antidromic action potentials in response to IML stimulation were demonstrated in the CeVLM neurons where optical images were detected, and 4) glutamate application to the CeVLM increased the frequency of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and induced depolarization of the IML neurons. The optical imaging findings suggested a novel axonal and functional projection from neurons in the CeVLM to the IML. The increase in EPSPs of the IML neurons in response to glutamate application suggests that the CeVLM participates in the regulation of sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure and may correspond to the caudal pressor area.


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