scholarly journals Exaggerated sympathoexcitatory reflexes develop with changes in the rostral ventrolateral medulla in obese Zucker rats

2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (2) ◽  
pp. R243-R253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Domitila A. Huber ◽  
Ann M. Schreihofer
Keyword(s):  
Sciatic Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Zucker Rats ◽  
Thoracic Spinal Cord ◽  
Thoracic Spinal ◽  
Obese Zucker Rats ◽  
Sciatic Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Upper Thoracic

Obesity leads to altered autonomic reflexes that reduce stability of mean arterial pressure (MAP). Sympathoinhibitory reflexes such as baroreflexes are impaired, but reflexes that raise MAP appear to be augmented. In obese Zucker rats (OZR) sciatic nerve stimulation evokes larger increases in MAP by unknown mechanisms. We sought to determine the autonomic underpinnings of this enhanced somatic pressor reflex and whether other sympathoexcitatory reflexes are augmented. We also determined whether their final common pathway, glutamatergic activation of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), was enhanced in male OZR compared with lean Zucker rats (LZR). Sciatic nerve stimulation or activation of the nasopharyngeal reflex evoked larger rises in splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) (79% and 45% larger in OZR, respectively; P < 0.05) and MAP in urethane-anesthetized, ventilated, paralyzed adult OZR compared with LZR. After elimination of baroreflex feedback by pharmacological prevention of changes in MAP and heart rate, these two sympathoexcitatory reflexes were still exaggerated in OZR (167% and 69% larger, respectively, P < 0.05). In adult OZR microinjections of glutamate, AMPA, or NMDA into the RVLM produced larger rises in SNA (∼61% larger in OZR, P < 0.05 for each drug) and MAP, but stimulation of axonal fibers in the upper thoracic spinal cord yielded equivalent responses in OZR and LZR. In juvenile OZR and LZR, sympathoexcitatory reflexes and physiological responses to RVLM activation were comparable. These data suggest that the ability of glutamate to activate the RVLM becomes enhanced in adult OZR and may contribute to the development of exaggerated sympathoexcitatory responses independent of impaired baroreflexes.

Somatic and visceral inputs to neurons of the rostral ventrolateral medulla

1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (1) ◽  
pp. R35-R40 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Ermirio ◽  
P. Ruggeri ◽  
C. Molinari ◽  
L. C. Weaver
Keyword(s):  
Sciatic Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Renal Nerve ◽  
Afferent Stimulation ◽  
Cardiovascular Neurons ◽  
Sciatic Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Regulation Of Blood Pressure ◽  
Stimulation Of

Sympathoexcitatory neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) play an essential role in the generation of basal sympathetic tone and in the reflex regulation of blood pressure. In this study responses of RVLM "cardiovascular" neurons to somatic and visceral afferent stimulation were investigated. The activity of 34 RVLM neurons was recorded in urethan-anesthetized paralyzed and artificially ventilated rats. These neurons were identified as cardiovascular based on their baroreceptor sensitivity and their pulse-synchronous discharge. Electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve excited 31 of the 34 RVLM units (91%). Renal nerve stimulation inhibited firing of 14 of 22 RVLM neurons tested (64%), not affecting the remaining 8 units. Stimulation of splenic nerves inhibited the discharge of 7 of 12 RVLM neurons tested (58%), whereas the remaining 5 units were not affected. All RVLM units responsive to visceral afferent stimulation were also responsive to sciatic nerve stimulation. These results indicate that RVLM cardiovascular neurons receive somatic and visceral inputs, suggesting an involvement of these units in the integration of homeostatic responses to changes in the internal and external environment.

scholarly journals Altered regulation of the rostral ventrolateral medulla in hypertensive obese Zucker rats

2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (1) ◽  
pp. H230-H240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Domitila A. Huber ◽  
Ann M. Schreihofer
Keyword(s):  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Nucleus Tractus Solitarius ◽  
Excitatory Input ◽  
Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Zucker Rats ◽  
Caudal Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Obese Zucker Rats ◽  
Altered Regulation

Obese Zucker rats (OZR) have elevated sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) compared with lean Zucker rats (LZR). We examined whether altered tonic glutamatergic, angiotensinergic, or GABAergic inputs to the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) contribute to elevated SNA and MAP in OZR. Male rats (14–18 wk) were anesthetized with urethane (1.5 g/kg iv), ventilated, and paralyzed to record splanchnic SNA, heart rate (HR), and MAP. Inhibition of the RVLM by microinjections of muscimol eliminated SNA and evoked greater decreases in MAP in OZR vs. LZR ( P < 0.05). Antagonism of angiotensin AT1 receptors in RVLM with losartan yielded modest decreases in SNA and MAP in OZR but not LZR ( P < 0.05). However, antagonism of ionotropic glutamate receptors in RVLM with kynurenate produced comparable decreases in SNA, HR, and MAP in OZR and LZR. Antagonism of GABAA receptors in RVLM with gabazine evoked smaller rises in SNA, HR, and MAP in OZR vs. LZR ( P < 0.05), whereas responses to microinjections of GABA into RVLM were comparable. Inhibition of the caudal ventrolateral medulla, a major source of GABA to the RVLM, evoked attenuated rises in SNA and HR in OZR ( P <0.05). Likewise, inhibition of nucleus tractus solitarius, the major excitatory input to caudal ventrolateral medulla, produced smaller rises in SNA and HR in OZR. These results suggest the elevated SNA and MAP in OZR is derived from the RVLM and that enhanced angiotensinergic activation and reduced GABAergic inhibition of the RVLM may contribute to the elevated SNA and MAP in the OZR.

Spinal NMDA receptors mediate pressor responses evoked from the rostral ventrolateral medulla

1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (1) ◽  
pp. H267-H275 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Bazil ◽  
F. J. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Nmda Receptors ◽  
Excitatory Amino Acid ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Thoracic Spinal Cord ◽  
Thoracic Spinal ◽  
Pressor Responses

These studies investigated the role of spinal N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors in the mediation of cardiovascular responses evoked by L-glutamate (L-Glu) stimulation of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVM). Microinjections of L-Glu into the RVM of urethan-anesthetized rats increased mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate. Intrathecal administration of the NMDA receptor antagonists D-(-)-2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (D-AP-7) or 3-((+-)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonate (CPP) reduced MAP and heart rate. Blockade of NMDA receptors by D-AP-7 or CPP in the caudal thoracic spinal cord markedly reduced RVM pressor responses with little effect on evoked tachycardia. Administration of D-AP-7 to the rostral thoracic spinal cord had no effect on RVM pressor or tachycardic responses. Intrathecal D-AP-7 and CPP abolished the cardiovascular effects of intrathecal NMDA without reducing those produced by intrathecal kainic acid or the quisqualate agonist DL-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA). These results indicate that 1) tonic activation of spinal NMDA receptors participates in the maintenance of sympathetic outflow to the heart and blood vessels, 2) pressor responses evoked from the RVM require synaptic activation of spinal NMDA receptors, and 3) an excitatory amino acid may be the neurotransmitter of pressor pathways descending from the RVM to the spinal cord.

scholarly journals Collateralization of projections from the rostral ventrolateral medulla to the rostral and caudal thoracic spinal cord in felines

2012 ◽  
Vol 220 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael F. Gowen ◽  
Sarah W. Ogburn ◽  
Takeshi Suzuki ◽  
Yoichiro Sugiyama ◽  
Lucy A. Cotter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Thoracic Spinal Cord ◽  
Thoracic Spinal

PNMT-containing neurons of the C1 cell group express c-fos in response to changes in baroreceptor input

1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (2) ◽  
pp. R361-R367 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Sved ◽  
D. L. Mancini ◽  
J. C. Graham ◽  
A. M. Schreihofer ◽  
G. E. Hoffman
Keyword(s):  
Afferent Input ◽  
Protein Product ◽  
Early Gene ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Cell Group ◽  
Afferent Activity ◽  
Thoracic Spinal Cord ◽  
Thoracic Spinal ◽  
Upper Thoracic

The immunocytochemical detection of Fos, the protein product of the immediate-early gene c-fos, was used as a marker for activated neurons to examine whether the C1 neurons in the rat rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) respond to changes in baroreceptor afferent activity. After hydralazine-induced hypotension or sinoaortic denervation, two treatments that reduce baroreceptor afferent activity, numerous Fos-positive neurons were observed in the RVLM. The number of Fos-positive neurons in the RVLM was counted in brain stem sections from hydralazine-treated rats that had been previously injected with Fluorogold into the upper thoracic spinal cord to label spinally projecting RVLM neurons as well as stained for phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT) as a marker of C1 neurons. The results indicate that approximately 80% of the C1 neurons expressed Fos in response to hydralazine injection; this was true of spinally projecting C1 neurons as well as those C1 neurons that were not labeled with Fluorogold. Furthermore, in hydralazine-treated rats, the majority of Fluorogold-labeled Fos-positive neurons contained PNMT. These results suggest that C1 neurons are sensitive to baroreceptor afferent input and support a role of these neurons in cardiovascular regulation.

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