mu-Opioid receptors in NTS elicit pressor responses via sympathetic pathways

1987 ◽  
Vol 252 (1) ◽  
pp. H156-H162 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. H. Hassen ◽  
G. Feuerstein

We have evaluated the relative contributions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems to the increased mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) elicited by the selective mu-agonist D-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly-ol5 enkephalin (DAGO) following microinjection (100 nl) into the nucleus of tractus solitarius (NTS) of anesthetized, artificially ventilated Sprague-Dawley rats. The effects of anesthesia and central opioid-receptor activation on baroreflex function were also examined. All cardiovascular responses elicited by DAGO were eliminated by complete C1 spinal transection. Pretreatment with the alpha-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine attenuated the increase in MAP, but not the tachycardia; the beta-blocker propranolol abolished the tachycardia but not the pressor response to DAGO. Adrenalectomy, vagotomy, or pretreatment with atropine methyl nitrate were all without effect. Baroreflexes were attenuated in animals anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium, but were present in urethan-anesthetized rats. DAGO attenuated the increases in MAP and HR elicited following carotid occlusion, but not the bradycardia elicited by a phenylephrine-induced pressor response. These data indicate that mu-receptors in the NTS elicit cardiovascular responses that are mediated by increased sympathetic nerve activity, and accompanied by selective attenuation of baroreflex function.

1987 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 2258-2263
Author(s):  
K. W. McCoy ◽  
D. M. Rotto ◽  
M. P. Kaufman

We have examined the effect of static contraction of the hindlimb muscles on the discharge of aortic chemoreceptors in chloralose-anesthetized cats. The responses of the chemoreceptors to contraction were dependent on the arterial pressure response to this maneuver. When contraction reflexly evoked a pressor response of at least 20 mmHg, the discharge of 26 chemoreceptors was reduced from control levels by 53% (P less than 0.01). The contraction-induced inhibition of chemoreceptor discharge was prevented by phentolamine, an alpha-adrenergic antagonist that also attenuated the contraction-induced pressor response. In addition, the inhibition evoked by contraction was simulated by injection of phenylephrine and inflation of an aortic balloon, both of which evoked pressor responses. However, when contraction failed to significantly change arterial pressure, the discharge of 20 aortic chemoreceptors was not significantly changed from control levels. We conclude that the reflex pressor response to static contraction inhibits the discharge of aortic chemoreceptors. This inhibition of discharge needs to be considered when interpreting the effects of aortic barodenervation on the cardiovascular responses to exercise.


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (3) ◽  
pp. E432
Author(s):  
C J Weaver ◽  
M D Johnson

Reduction of renal perfusion is followed by increases in plasma renin activity (PRA) and arterial pressure. The present experiments were designed to determine if an opiate antagonist would alter pressor or renin responses to acute reduction of renal arterial pressure (RAP) in anesthetized rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with Inactin, and an adjustable constrictor device was placed around the abdominal aorta proximal to the renal arteries. One-half of the animals were pretreated with the opiate antagonist naloxone (2 mg/kg iv), and the other one-half were pretreated with saline vehicle. The abdominal aorta was then constricted to reduce RAP by 25% (measured as femoral arterial pressure) in one-half of the animals in each pretreatment group. Compared with vehicle pretreatment, naloxone pretreatment did not alter the PRA response to aortic constriction; however, naloxone did attenuate the pressor response. We conclude that 1) the PRA response to acute reduction of renal arterial pressure is not dependent on an opiate mechanism in the rat, and 2) attenuation of the pressor response to aortic constriction by naloxone in intact rats is not secondary to a suppression of the PRA response.


2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (4) ◽  
pp. H1829-H1835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerard D’Angelo ◽  
Jennifer S. Pollock ◽  
David M. Pollock

Clinical studies have documented an abrupt rise in plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) coincident with an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) during the response to acute stress. We therefore examined the ETA and ETB receptor-dependent effects of ET-1 on the pressor response to acute environmental stress in ET-1-dependent hypertension. Stress was induced by administration of air jet pulses (3 min) in ETB receptor-deficient (ETB sl/sl) rats fed normal salt (NS; 0.8% NaCl), high salt (HS; 8% NaCl), and HS plus the ETA receptor antagonist ABT-627 (5 mg·kg−1·day−1) on successive weeks. MAP was chronically monitored by telemetry. Total pressor response (area under the curve) was significantly reduced in ETB sl/sl rats maintained on a HS vs. NS diet [−6.8 mmHg (SD 18.7) vs. 29.3 mmHg (SD 8.1) × 3 min, P < 0.05]. Conversely, the total pressor response was augmented in both wild-type [34.2 mmHg (SD 29.2) × 3 min, P < 0.05 vs. NS] and ETB sl/sl rats [49.1 mmHg (SD 11.8) × 3 min, P < 0.05 vs. NS] by ABT-627. Blockade of ETB receptors in Sprague-Dawley rats caused an increase in basal MAP that was enhanced by HS and lowered by mixed ETA/ETB receptor antagonism; none of these treatments, however, had any effect on the pressor response. These data demonstrate that increasing endogenous ET-1 suppresses the pressor response to acute stress through ETA receptor activation in a genetic model of ET-1-dependent hypertension. These results are consistent with reports that ET-1 can attenuate sympathetically mediated responses.


1993 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Overton

The purposes of this study were to determine the role of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in producing the heart rate (HR) response to dynamic exercise in rats and to determine the effect of attenuation of the HR response to exercise on blood flow redistribution. Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 10) were instrumented with arterial and venous catheters and Doppler flow probes. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), HR, mesenteric blood flow (MBF), and iliac blood flow (IBF) were determined during four exercise tests. On 4 consecutive days, rats were treated with saline (SAL, 1 mg/kg iv), atropine methyl nitrate (ATR, 2 mg/kg), timolol maleate (TIM, 0.5 mg/kg), and combined timolol and atropine. One minute of mild exercise (10 m/min) produced an increase in HR of 90 +/- 6 beats/min after SAL treatment, which was significantly less than the increment after ATR (56 +/- 5 beats/min) or TIM (4 +/- 3 beats/min). For the remainder of graded exercise, ATR treatment produced a modest attenuation in the increment in HR and no effect on MAP, IBF, and MBF. At 30 m/min, TIM markedly blunted the exercise-induced increment in HR (SAL, 138 +/- 8 beats/min; TIM, 53 +/- 4 beats/min) and IBF (SAL, 324 +/- 33%; TIM, 197 +/- 33%) with no effect on MAP or MBF. The results suggest that 1) the sympathetic nervous system is an important mediator of exercise-induced tachycardia in rats and 2) exercised-induced hyperemia, but not MAP, is attenuated by nonselective beta-blockade during exercise in rats.


2005 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 872-880 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhou ◽  
Liang-Wu Fu ◽  
Stephanie C. Tjen-A-Looi ◽  
Peng Li ◽  
John C. Longhurst

Despite the use of acupuncture to treat a number of heart diseases, little is known about the mechanisms that underlie its actions. Therefore, we examined the influence of acupuncture on sympathoexcitatory cardiovascular responses to gastric distension in anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. Thirty minutes of low-current, low-frequency, (0.3–0.5 mA, 2 Hz) electroacupuncture (EA), at P 5–6, S 36–37, and H 6–7 overlying the median, deep peroneal, and ulnar nerves significantly decreased reflex pressor responses by 40, 39, and 44%, respectively. In contrast, sham acupuncture involving needle insertion without stimulation at P 5–6 or 30 min of EA at LI 6–7 acupoints overlying the superficial radial nerve did not attenuate the reflex. Similarly, EA at P 5–6 using 40- or 100-Hz stimulation frequencies did not inhibit the reflex. Compared with EA at P 5–6, EA at two sets of acupoints, including P 5–6 and S 36–37, did not lead to larger inhibition of the reflex. Two minutes of manual acupuncture (MA; 2 Hz) at P 5–6 every 10 min for 30 min inhibited the reflex cardiovascular pressor response by 33%, a value not significantly different from 2-Hz EA at P 5–6. Single-unit afferent activity was not different between electrical stimulation (ES) and manual stimulation. However, 2-Hz ES activated more somatic afferents than 10- or 20-Hz ES. These data suggest that, although the location of acupoint stimulation and the frequency of stimulation determine the extent of influence of EA, there is little difference between low-frequency EA and MA at P 5–6. Furthermore, simultaneous stimulation using two acupoints that independently exert strong effects did not lead to an additive or a facilitative interaction. The similarity of the responses to EA and MA and the lack of cardiovascular response to high-frequency EA appear to be largely a function of somatic afferent responses.


Hypertension ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 36 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 723-723
Author(s):  
Qing-Feng Tao ◽  
Diego Martinez vasquez ◽  
Ricardo Rocha ◽  
Gordon H Williams ◽  
Gail K Adler

P165 Aldosterone through its interaction with the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) plays a critical role in the development of hypertension and cardiovascular injury (CVI). Normally, MR is protected by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) which inactivates glucocorticoids preventing their binding to MR. We hypothesis that if activation of MR by either aldosterone or glucocorticoids induces hypertension and CVI, then the inhibition of 11β-HSD with glycyrrhizin (GA), a natural inhibitor of 11β-HSD, should induce damage similar to that observed with aldosterone. Sprague-Dawley rats were uninephrectomized, and treated for 4 weeks with 1% NaCl (in drinking water) for the control group, 1% NaCl + aldosterone infusion (0.75 μg/h), or 1% NaCl + GA (3.5 g/l in drinking water). After 4 weeks, aldosterone and GA caused significant increases in blood pressure compared to control rats ([mean ± SEM] 211± 9, 205 ± 12, 120 ± 9 mmHg, respectively, p<0.001). Both aldosterone- and GA-treated rats had a significant increase in proteinuria (152.2 ± 8.7 and 107.7 ± 19.5 mg/d, respectively) versus controls (51.2 ± 9.5 mg/d). There was a significant increase (p<0.001) in heart to body weight ratio in the rats treated with aldosterone or GA compared with control (3.92 ± 0.10, 3.98 ± 0.88, and 3.24 ± 0.92 mg/g, respectively). Hearts of GA and aldosterone treated rats showed similar histological changes consisting of biventricular myocardial necrosis and fibrinoid necrosis of small coronary arteries and arterioles. These data suggests that in rodents activation of MR by either aldosterone or corticosterone leads to severe hypertension, vascular injury, proteinuria and myocardial infarction. Thus, 11β-HSD plays an important role in protecting the organism from injury.


2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (6) ◽  
pp. R1335-R1345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Li ◽  
Kasra Rowshan ◽  
Melissa Crisostomo ◽  
Stephanie C. Tjen-A-Looi ◽  
John C. Longhurst

The effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the reflex cardiovascular response induced by mechanical distension of the stomach was studied in ventilated male Sprague-Dawley rats anesthetized by ketamine and α-chloralose. Repeated balloon inflation of the stomach to produce 20 mmHg tension on the gastric wall induced a consistent rise in mean arterial pressure, while heart rate (372 ± 22 beats/min) was unchanged. This response was reversed by transection of the splanchnic nerves. Bilateral application of EA (1–2 mA, 2 Hz) at Neiguan-Jianshi acupoints (pericardial meridian, Pe 5–6) over the median nerve for 30 min significantly decreased the pressor response from 33 ± 6 to 18 ± 4 mmHg ( n = 7, P < 0.05). This effect began after 10 min of EA and continued for 40 min after termination of EA. EA at Zusanli-Shangquxu acupoints (stomach meridian, St 36–37) over the deep peroneal nerve similarly inhibited the pressor response. The effect lasted for 10 min after EA was stopped ( n = 6, P < 0.05), while EA at Guangming-Xuanzhong acupoints (gallbladder meridian, GB 37–39) over the superficial peroneal nerve did not inhibit the pressor response. Naloxone injected intravenously ( n = 6) immediately after termination of EA or administered by microinjection into the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) 25 min after initiation of EA ( n = 6) reversed the inhibition by EA, suggesting an opiate mechanism, including the rVLM, was involved.


1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (3) ◽  
pp. H918-H926 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Knuepfer ◽  
S. P. Han ◽  
A. J. Trapani ◽  
K. F. Fok ◽  
T. C. Westfall

Endothelin is a peptide with potent, long-lasting pressor effects characterized by increases in mesenteric and hindquarters vascular resistance and bradycardia following an initial, transient depressor response. This study examined the mechanisms of action of endothelin on regional hemodynamics in conscious, freely moving rats and on baroreflex sensitivity both in conscious and chloralose-anesthetized rats. The pressor response to endothelin (0.67 nmol/kg) was attenuated by nifedipine (25 micrograms/kg) and augmented by chloralose anesthesia. The bradycardia was attenuated by pentolinium (10 mg/kg), atropine methyl sulfate (0.5 mg/kg), or chloralose anesthesia. Hindquarter vaso-constriction was attenuated by nifedipine, pentolinium, and atropine, whereas mesenteric vasoconstriction was less sensitive to blockade. The vasopressin V1 antagonist, [d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)]-AVP (20 micrograms/kg), indomethacin (5 mg/kg), or verapamil (150 micrograms/kg) did not affect any of these cardiovascular responses. Renal sympathetic nerve activity was reduced similarly in chloralose-anesthetized rats to pressor responses elicited by either phenylephrine or endothelin, and the slope of the baro-reflex function curve after endothelin was similar to that of phenylephrine. These results suggest that endothelin is a potent vasoconstrictor in which its action on visceral and skeletal muscle vasculature is mediated by somewhat different mechanisms. Endothelin does not alter baroreceptor reflex control of sympathetic nerve activity or heart rate.


1990 ◽  
Vol 258 (5) ◽  
pp. R1147-R1156 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. C. Tomlinson ◽  
S. M. Gardiner ◽  
T. Bennett

Responses to intracerebroventricular (icv) angiotensin II (ANG II) were measured in Long-Evans rats treated with the diabetogenic agent, streptozotocin (STZ), or saline 28 days earlier. STZ-treated Long-Evans rats showed normal pressor responses to ANG II in the absence of drinking water, but bradycardic responses were impaired although there was no reduction in baroreflex sensitivity. When allowed to drink, saline-treated, but not STZ-treated, rats showed an enhanced pressor response to icv ANG II and a tachycardia. Peripheral V1-receptor antagonism attenuated the pressor response to icv ANG II, leaving a residual response that was greater in saline-treated than in STZ-treated rats. STZ-treated rats had attenuated pressor and heart rate responses to icv angiotensin I (ANG I). Although some cardiovascular responses to icv ANG I and ANG II were reduced in STZ-treated rats, these animals showed enhanced sensitivity to the dipsogenic effects of the peptides. Vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rats showed little pressor response to icv ANG II unless drinking was allowed, in which case the pressor response was less in STZ-treated than in saline-treated Brattleboro rats, although there was no difference in drinking response.


1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (5) ◽  
pp. H1523-H1528 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. McCormack ◽  
N. A. Paterson

In pulmonary inflammatory processes such as pneumonia there is diminished hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). We investigated whether the attenuated HPV in pneumonia is a due to excess nitric oxide (NO) release. Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized, and a slurry (0.06 ml) of infected agar beads (containing 6 x 10(5) Pseudomonas aeruginosa organisms) or control (sterile) beads was then injected into a distal bronchus through a tracheotomy. After the establishment of a chronic P. aeruginosa pneumonia (7-10 days later) animals were instrumented for hemodynamic monitoring, and the response to exposure to hypoxic gas (fraction of inspired O2 = 0.08) was recorded before and after the administration of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; 50 mg/kg), an inhibitor of NO synthesis. The hypoxic pressor response, as assessed by the absolute increase in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and total pulmonary resistance (TPR), was reduced in infected animals compared with control animals. The change in PAP and TPR was 8.5 +/- 0.7 and 0.053 +/- 0.007, respectively, in control animals compared with 5.9 +/- 0.5 and 0.041 +/- 0.011 in infected animals. After L-NMMA the increase in PAP and TPR during hypoxia was greater in both control and infected animals. However, treatment with L-NMMA did not affect the difference between control and infected animals. We conclude that excess release of NO does not account for the attenuated hypoxic pressor response in pneumonia.


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