scholarly journals Role of small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels expressed in PVN in regulating sympathetic nerve activity and arterial blood pressure in rats

2012 ◽  
Vol 303 (3) ◽  
pp. R301-R310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Gui ◽  
Lila P. LaGrange ◽  
Robert A. Larson ◽  
Mingjun Gu ◽  
Jianhua Zhu ◽  
...  

Small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) channels regulate membrane properties of rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) projecting hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) neurons and inhibition of SK channels increases in vitro excitability. Here, we determined in vivo the role of PVN SK channels in regulating sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and mean arterial pressure (MAP). In anesthetized rats, bilateral PVN microinjection of SK channel blocker with peptide apamin (0, 0.125, 1.25, 3.75, 12.5, and 25 pmol) increased splanchnic SNA (SSNA), renal SNA (RSNA), MAP, and heart rate (HR) in a dose-dependent manner. Maximum increases in SSNA, RSNA, MAP, and HR elicited by apamin (12.5 pmol, n = 7) were 330 ± 40% ( P < 0.01), 271 ± 40% ( P < 0.01), 29 ± 4 mmHg ( P < 0.01), and 34 ± 9 beats/min ( P < 0.01), respectively. PVN injection of the nonpeptide SK channel blocker UCL1684 (250 pmol, n = 7) significantly increased SSNA ( P < 0.05), RSNA ( P < 0.05), MAP ( P < 0.05), and HR ( P < 0.05). Neither apamin injected outside the PVN (12.5 pmol, n = 6) nor peripheral administration of the same dose of apamin (12.5 pmol, n = 5) evoked any significant changes in the recorded variables. PVN-injected SK channel enhancer 5,6-dichloro-1-ethyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (DCEBIO, 5 nmol, n = 4) or N-cyclohexyl- N-[2-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-methyl-4-pyrimidin]amine (CyPPA, 5 nmol, n = 6) did not significantly alter the SSNA, RSNA, MAP, and HR. Western blot and RT-PCR analysis of punched PVN tissue showed abundant expression of SK1-3 channels. We conclude that SK channels expressed in the PVN play an important role in the regulation of sympathetic outflow and cardiovascular function.

2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (1) ◽  
pp. H118-H130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Gui ◽  
Zhiwei Bao ◽  
Yinyu Jia ◽  
Xiaotong Qin ◽  
Zixi (Jack) Cheng ◽  
...  

In vitro experiments have shown that the upregulation of small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) channels in ventricular epicardial myocytes is responsible for spontaneous ventricular fibrillation (VF) in failing ventricles. However, the role of SK channels in regulating VF has not yet been described in in vivo acute myocardial infarction (AMI) animals. The present study determined the role of SK channels in regulating spontaneous sustained ventricular tachycardia (SVT) and VF, the inducibility of ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and the effect of inhibition of SK channels on spontaneous SVT/VF and electrical ventricular instability in AMI rats. AMI was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in anesthetized rats. Spontaneous SVT/VF was analyzed, and programmed electrical stimulation was performed to evaluate the inducibility of ventricular tachyarrhythmias, ventricular effective refractory period (VERP), and VF threshold (VFT). In AMI, the duration and episodes of spontaneous SVT/VF were increased, and the inducibility of ventricular tachyarrhythmias was elevated. Pretreatment in the AMI group with the SK channel blocker apamin or UCL-1684 significantly reduced SVT/VF and inducibility of ventricular tachyarrhythmias ( P < 0.05). Various doses of apamin (7.5, 22.5, 37.5, and 75.0 μg/kg iv) inhibited SVT/VF and the inducibility of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, no effects were observed in sham-operated controls. Additionally, VERP was shortened in AMI animals. Pretreatment in AMI animals with the SK channel blocker significantly prolonged VERP ( P < 0.05). No effects were observed in sham-operated controls. Furthermore, VFT was reduced in AMI animals, and block of SK channels increased VFT in AMI animals, but, again, this was without effect in sham-operated controls. Finally, the monophasic action potential duration at 90% repolarization (MAPD90) was examined in the myocardial infarcted (MI) and nonmyocardial infarcted areas (NMI) of the left ventricular epicardium. Electrophysiology recordings showed that MAPD90 in the MI area was shortened in AMI animals, and pretreatment with SK channel blocker apamin or UCL-1684 significantly prolonged MAPD90 ( P < 0.05) in the MI area but was without effect in the NMI area or in sham-operated controls. We conclude that the activation of SK channels may underlie the mechanisms of spontaneous SVT/VF and suseptibility to ventricular tachyarrhythmias in AMI. Inhibition of SK channels normalized the shortening of MAPD90 in the MI area, which may contribute to the inhibitory effect on spontaneous SVT/VF and inducibility of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in AMI.


1995 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 581-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Leuenberger ◽  
E. Jacob ◽  
L. Sweer ◽  
N. Waravdekar ◽  
C. Zwillich ◽  
...  

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with oscillations of arterial blood pressure (BP) that occur in phase with irregularities of respiration. To explore the role of the sympathetic nervous system in these responses, we studied muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA; peroneal microneurography), an index of vasoconstrictor nerve traffic, and BP during awake regular breathing and during spontaneous apneas in patients with OSA. To determine the role of the arterial chemoreflex, we also examined the effects of 100% O2 (hyperoxia) on MSNA and BP. In awake regularly breathing patients with OSA (n = 12), resting MSNA was markedly higher than in an age-matched control population (n = 15) [41 +/- 23 (SD) vs. 24 +/- 17 bursts/min; P < 0.05] and was unchanged during hyperoxia (n = 9). Apneas during sleep (n = 8) were associated with surges in MSNA followed by transient rises in BP when breathing resumed. In contrast to room air apneas, hyperoxic apneas of similar duration were associated with attenuated MSNA responses (+82 +/- 84% vs. +5 +/- 25% compared with awake baseline; P < 0.05; n = 6), even though O2 did not affect sleep stage and the occurrence of arousal. Thus the BP oscillations that occur with apnea during sleep may in part be mediated by intermittent surges of sympathetic activity resulting in vasoconstriction. Because the MSNA responses to obstructive apnea are blunted during O2 administration, they appear to be linked to intermittent arterial hypoxemia and stimulation of arterial chemoreceptors.


2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (4) ◽  
pp. R976-R984 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bago ◽  
C. Dean

The role of 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A (5-HT1A) receptors located in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in the mediation of a sympathoinhibitory and depressor response elicited from the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) matter of the midbrain was examined in pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized rats. Activation of neurons in the vlPAG evoked a decrease in renal and lumbar sympathetic nerve activities and a decrease in arterial blood pressure. After microinjection of the specific 5-HT1A-receptor antagonist WAY-100635 into the pressor area of the RVLM, the vlPAG-evoked sympathoinhibition and hypotension was attenuated to control levels (7 of 15 animals) or converted into a sympathoexcitation and pressor response (8 of 15 animals). Baroreflex inhibition of sympathetic nerve activity was not impaired by microinjection of WAY into the sympathoexcitatory region of the RVLM. These data suggest that sympathoinhibition and hypotension elicited by activation of neurons in the vlPAG are mediated by 5-HT1A receptors in the RVLM.


1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (3) ◽  
pp. R662-R668 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Ando ◽  
T. Ichijo ◽  
T. Katafuchi ◽  
T. Hori

The effects of central administration of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and its selective agonists on splenic sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) were investigated in urethan- and alpha-chloralose-anesthetized rats. An intra-third-cerebroventricular (13V) injection of PGE2 (0.1-10 nmol/kg) increased splenic SNA in a dose-dependent manner. An I3V injection of an EP1 agonist, 17-phenyl-omega-trinor PGE2 (1-30 nmol/kg), also resulted in a dose-dependent increase in splenic SNA, with a time course similar to that of PGE2-induced responses. In contrast, EP2 agonists, butaprost (10-100 nmol/kg I3V) and 11-deoxy-PGE1 (10-100 nmol/kg I3V), had no effect on splenic SNA. An I3V injection of M & B-28767 (an EP3/EP1 agonist, EP3 >> EP1) increased splenic SNA only at high doses (10-100 nmol/kg). Pretreatment with an EP1 antagonist, SC-19220 (200 and 500 nmol/kg), completely blocked the responses of splenic SNA to PGE2 (0.1 nmol/kg) and M & B-28767 (10 nmol/kg), respectively. These findings indicate that brain PGE2 increases splenic SNA through its action on EP1 receptors.


2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (5) ◽  
pp. H759-H766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth T. Fairfax ◽  
Jaume Padilla ◽  
Lauro C. Vianna ◽  
Michael J. Davis ◽  
Paul J. Fadel

Previous studies in humans attempting to assess sympathetic vascular transduction have related large reflex-mediated increases in muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) to associated changes in limb vascular resistance. However, such procedures do not provide insight into the ability of MSNA to dynamically control vascular tone on a beat-by-beat basis. Thus we examined the influence of spontaneous MSNA bursts on leg vascular conductance (LVC) and how variations in MSNA burst pattern (single vs. multiple bursts) and burst size may affect the magnitude of the LVC response. In 11 young men, arterial blood pressure, common femoral artery blood flow, and MSNA were continuously recorded during 20 min of supine rest. Signal averaging was used to characterize percent changes in LVC for 15 cardiac cycles following heartbeats associated with and without MSNA bursts. LVC significantly decreased following MSNA bursts, reaching a nadir during the 6th cardiac cycle (single bursts, −2.9 ± 1.1%; and multiple bursts, −11.0 ± 1.4%; both, P < 0.001). Individual MSNA burst amplitudes and the total amplitude of consecutive bursts were related to the magnitude of peak decreases in LVC. In contrast, cardiac cycles without MSNA bursts were associated with a significant increase in LVC (+3.1 ± 0.5%; P < 0.001). Total vascular conductance decreased in parallel with LVC also reaching a nadir around the peak rise in arterial blood pressure following an MSNA burst. Collectively, these data are the first to assess beat-by-beat sympathetic vascular transduction in resting humans, demonstrating robust and dynamic decreases in LVC following MSNA bursts, an effect that was absent for cardiac cycles without MSNA bursts.


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