Contribution to sympathetic vasomotor tone of tonic glutamatergic inputs to neurons in the RVLM

2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (6) ◽  
pp. R1335-R1343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jouji Horiuchi ◽  
Suzanne Killinger ◽  
Roger A. L. Dampney
Keyword(s):  
Excitatory Amino Acid ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Tonic Activity ◽  
Vasomotor Tone ◽  
Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Vehicle Injection ◽  
Sympathetic Vasomotor Tone ◽  
Modest Reduction ◽  
Renal Sympathetic

The role of excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in maintaining resting sympathetic vasomotor tone remains unclear. It has been proposed that EAA receptors in the RVLM mediate excitatory inputs both to presympathetic neurons and to interneurons in the caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM), which then provide a counterbalancing inhibition of RVLM presympathetic neurons. In this study, we tested this hypothesis by determining the effect of blockade of EAA receptors in the RVLM on mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), after inhibition of CVLM neurons. In anesthetized rats, bilateral injections of muscimol in the CVLM increased MAP, HR, and RSNA. Subsequent bilateral injections of kynurenic acid (Kyn, 2.7 nmol) in the RVLM caused a modest reduction of ∼20 mmHg in the MAP but had no effect, when compared with the effect of vehicle injection alone, on HR or RSNA. By ∼50 min after the injections of Kyn or vehicle in the RVLM, the MAP had stabilized at a level close to its original baseline level, but the HR and RSNA stabilized at levels above baseline. The results indicate that removal of tonic EAA drive to RVLM neurons has little effect on the tonic activity of RVLM presympathetic neurons, even when inputs from the CVLM are blocked. Thus the tonic activity of RVLM presympathetic neurons under these conditions is dependent on excitatory synaptic inputs mediated by non-EAA receptors and/or the autoactivity of these neurons.

scholarly journals Contribution of AMPA/kainate receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla to the hypotensive and sympathoinhibitory effects of clonidine

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (3) ◽  
pp. R1232-R1238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Zhong Wang ◽  
Li-Gang Wang ◽  
Lie Gao ◽  
Wei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Kainate Receptors ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Kainate Receptor ◽  
Receptor Subtype ◽  
Target Area ◽  
Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Functional States ◽  
Renal Sympathetic

The depressor and sympathoinhibitory effect of the imidazoline drug clonidine is reported to be associated with functional states of the central glutamate receptors. The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) has been recognized as a specific target area for mediating the central depressor mechanism of clonidine. The objective of this study was to determine the role of the glutamate receptor subtype α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)/kainate receptor within the RVLM in clonidine-induced depressor and sympathoinhibitory action in anesthetized normotensive rats. Unilateral microinjection of 200 pmol of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), a potent AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist, into the RVLM completely abolished the pressor action evoked by AMPA (5 pmol) without affecting the pressor action of N-methyl-d-aspartate (20 pmol). Pretreatment with intra-RVLM injection of CNQX (20 and 200 pmol) dose dependently attenuated the reduction in blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) elicited by intra-RVLM clonidine (5 nmol) or intravenous clonidine (10 μg/kg), while 2 pmol of CNQX did not alter clonidine-induced cardiovascular action. Furthermore, the decreases in BP, HR, and RSNA evoked by intravenous clonidine (10 μg/kg) or intra-RVLM clonidine (5 nmol) were reversed when CNQX (20 and 200 pmol) was subsequently injected into the RVLM. In conclusion, these data show that blockade of AMPA/kainate receptors in the RVLM significantly antagonizes decreases in BP, HR, and sympathetic activity induced by clonidine, suggesting that the AMPA/kainate receptors within the RVLM contribute to the depressor and sympathoinhibitory effect of clonidine.

Brain angiotensin II tonically modulates sympathetic baroreflex in rabbit ventrolateral medulla

1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (3) ◽  
pp. H1015-H1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Saigusa ◽  
M. Iriki ◽  
J. Arita
Keyword(s):  
Angiotensin Ii ◽  
Mean Arterial Pressure ◽  
Arterial Pressure ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Ang Ii ◽  
Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Baroreflex Function ◽  
Renal Sympathetic

The role of endogenous angiotensin II (ANG II) at the level of the rostral (RVLM) and caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM) in the control of sympathetic baroreflex function was investigated in urethan-anesthetized rabbits. The baroreflex relationship between mean arterial pressure and integrated renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) was compared before and during microinfusion of saralasin, an ANG II receptor antagonist into RVLM or CVLM. The infusion of saralasin (20 pmol/min) into RVLM reduced the upper plateau, the range, and the range-dependent gain of the baroreflex, as well as the resting level of RSNA. The infusion of saralasin into CVLM augmented the upper plateau, the reflex range, and the range-dependent gain, whereas it did not alter the resting level of RSNA or mean arterial pressure. These results suggest that 1) the ANG II networks in RVLM are tonically active, influencing the resting level of the sympathetic outflow and facilitating the sympathetic baroreflex function, and 2) the ANG II networks in CVLM do not significantly influence the sympathetic activity in the resting state but exert an inhibitory effect on the baroreflex response when arterial pressure falls below the resting level.

scholarly journals Nitric oxide in rostral ventrolateral medulla regulates cardiac-sympathetic reflexes: role of synthase isoforms

2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (4) ◽  
pp. H1478-H1486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi-Ling Guo ◽  
Stephanie C. Tjen-A-Looi ◽  
Liang-Wu Fu ◽  
John C. Longhurst
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Methyl Ester ◽  
Arterial Blood Pressure ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Sympathetic Reflexes ◽  
Renal Sympathetic

Our previous studies have shown that nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS)-containing neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) are activated during cardiac sympathoexcitatory reflexes (Refs. 12 and 13 ). However, the precise function of NO in the rVLM in regulation of these reflexes has not been defined. Three isoforms of NOS, including neuronal NOS (nNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), and endothelial NOS (eNOS), are located in the rVLM. We explored the role of NO, derived from different NOS isoforms in the rVLM, in processing cardiac-sympathetic reflexes using whole animal reflex and electrophysiological approaches. We found that, in anesthetized cats, increased mean arterial blood pressure and renal sympathetic nerve activity elicited by epicardial application of bradykinin (BK; 1–10 μg/ml, 50 μl) were significantly attenuated following unilateral rVLM microinjection of the nonselective NOS inhibitor, Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (50 nmol/50 nl), or a specific nNOS inhibitor, 7-nitroindazole (7-NI; 5–10 pmol/50 nl; both P < 0.05). In contrast, the responses of mean arterial blood pressure and renal sympathetic nerve activity to cardiac BK stimulation were unchanged by unilateral rVLM microinjection of Nω-nitro-d-arginine methyl ester (inactive isomer of Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, 50 nmol/50 nl), 3–6% methanol (7-NI vehicle), N6-(1-iminoethyl)-l-lysine (250 pmol/50 nl; iNOS inhibitor), or N5-(1-iminoethyl)-l-ornithine (250 nmol/50 nl; eNOS inhibitor). Furthermore, in separate cats, we noted that iontophoresis of 7-NI (0.1 mM) reduced the increased discharge of cardiovascular sympathoexcitatory rVLM neurons in response to cardiac stimulation with BK ( P < 0.05). These neurons were characterized by their responses to inputs from baroreceptors, and their cardiac rhythmicity was determined through frequency and time domain analyses, correlating their discharge to arterial blood pressure and cardiac sympathetic efferent nerve activity. These data suggest that NO, specifically nNOS, mediates sympathetic cardiac-cardiovascular responses through its action in the rVLM.

Glutamate receptors in RVLM modulate sympathetic baroreflex in conscious rabbits

2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (2) ◽  
pp. R511-R519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitry N. Mayorov ◽  
Geoffrey A. Head
Keyword(s):  
Arterial Pressure ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Excitatory Amino Acid ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Contrast Injection ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Conscious Rabbits ◽  
Pentobarbital Sodium Anesthesia ◽  
Renal Sympathetic

In this study, we examined the effect of excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptor blockade in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) on the renal sympathetic baroreflex in conscious rabbits. Rabbits were implanted with guide cannulas for bilateral microinjections into the RVLM (+2 to +3 mm from the obex, n = 8) or into the intermediate ventrolateral medulla (IVLM; 0 to +1 mm from the obex, n = 5) and with an electrode for measuring renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA). After 7 days of recovery, microinjection of the EAA receptor antagonist kynurenate (10 nmol) into the RVLM did not affect resting RSNA or arterial pressure. Kynurenate decreased the gain of the RSNA baroreflex by 53% but did not change the reflex range. By contrast, injection of kynurenate into the IVLM increased resting arterial pressure and RSNA by 27 mmHg and 88%, respectively, but did not alter the RSNA baroreflex gain or range. Pentobarbital sodium anesthesia attenuated the gain and range of the RSNA baroreflex by 78 and 40%, respectively. Under these conditions, microinjection of kynurenate into the RVLM did not cause any further change in the gain of this reflex. These results suggest that endogenous EAA neurotransmitters in the RVLM are important in modulating the sympathetic baroreflex in conscious rabbits. Anesthesia can mask the functional significance of EAAs in the RVLM in modulating the baroreflexes, which may explain why previous studies in anesthetized animals found no effect of blocking EAA receptors in the RVLM on sympathetic baroreflexes.

Influence of rostral ventrolateral medulla on renal sympathetic baroreflex in conscious rabbits

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (2) ◽  
pp. R577-R587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitry N. Mayorov ◽  
Geoffrey A. Head
Keyword(s):  
Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Ang Ii ◽  
Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Local Injections ◽  
Circulatory Control ◽  
Conscious Rabbits ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Renal Sympathetic

Previous studies with anesthetized animals have shown that the pressor region of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) is a critical site in vasomotor control. The aim of this study was to develop, in conscious rabbits, a technique for microinjecting into the RVLM and to determine the influence of this area on renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and arterial pressure (AP) using local injections of glutamate, rilmenidine, ANG II and sarile. Rabbits were implanted with guide cannulas for bilateral microinjections into the RVLM ( n = 7) or into the intermediate ventrolateral medulla (IVLM, n = 6) and an electrode for measuring RSNA. After 7 days of recovery, injections of glutamate (10 and 20 nmol) into the RVLM increased RSNA by 81 and 88% and AP by 17 and 25 mmHg, respectively. Infusion of glutamate (2 nmol/min) into the RVLM increased AP by 15 mmHg and the RSNA baroreflex range by 38%. By contrast, injection of the imidazoline receptor agonist rilmenidine (4 nmol) into the RVLM decreased AP by 8 mmHg and the RSNA baroreflex range by 37%. Injections of rilmenidine into the IVLM did not alter AP or RSNA. Surprisingly, treatments with ANG II (4 pmol/min) or the ANG II receptor antagonist sarile (500 pmol) into the RVLM did not affect the resting or baroreflex parameters. Infusion of ANG II (4 pmol/min) into the fourth ventricle increased AP and facilitated the RSNA baroreflex. Our results show that agents administered via a novel microinjecting system for conscious rabbits can selectively modulate neuronal activity in circumscribed regions of the ventrolateral medulla. We conclude that the RVLM plays a key role in circulatory control in conscious rabbits. However, we find no evidence for the role of ANG II receptors in the RVLM in the moment-to-moment regulation of AP and RSNA.

Hypotensive and sedative effects of clonidine injected into the rostral ventrolateral medulla of conscious rats

2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (6) ◽  
pp. R1868-R1876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masanobu Yamazato ◽  
Atsushi Sakima ◽  
Jun Nakazato ◽  
Shogo Sesoko ◽  
Hiromi Muratani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Natural Behavior ◽  
Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Conscious Rats ◽  
Adrenoceptor Antagonist ◽  
Anesthetized Rats ◽  
Sedative Effects ◽  
Vehicle Injection ◽  
Renal Sympathetic

We examined the effects of clonidine injected unilaterally into the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) of conscious, unrestrained rats. We also examined whether the local α2-adrenoceptor mechanism contributed to the action of clonidine injected into the RVLM. Injection of clonidine but not vehicle solution significantly decreased the mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) in conscious, unrestrained rats as well as in propofol-anesthetized rats. The frequency of natural behavior was significantly lower after clonidine injection than after vehicle injection. The depressor and sympathoinhibitory responses were significantly larger in the propofol-anesthetized rats than in the conscious rats. Coinjection of a selective α2-adrenoceptor antagonist, 2-methoxyidazoxan, with clonidine into the RVLM significantly attenuated the depressor, bradycardiac, sympathoinhibitory, and sedative effects of clonidine injected alone. In conclusion, clonidine injected into the RVLM decreased MAP, HR, and RSNA and caused sedation in conscious, unrestrained rats. The action of clonidine in the RVLM was at least partly mediated by α2-adrenoceptor mechanisms.

Role of vasopressin on cardiovascular changes during hemorrhage in conscious rats

1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (5) ◽  
pp. H1713-H1718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Fujisawa ◽  
A. Miyatake ◽  
Y. Hayashida ◽  
Y. Aki ◽  
S. Kimura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Inhibitory Action ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Stimulatory Action ◽  
Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Conscious Rats ◽  
V2 Receptor ◽  
Regulation Of Blood Pressure ◽  
Renal Sympathetic

Hypotensive hemorrhage decreases heart rate (HR) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA). Hemorrhage is a potent stimulus for arginine vasopressin (AVP) release; therefore, AVP may contribute to such inhibitory action of HR and RSNA during hemorrhage. We evaluated the roles of vasopressin on the regulation of blood pressure (BP), HR, and RSNA during hemorrhage using nonpeptide and selective V1- and V2-receptor antagonists (OPC-21268 and OPC-31260) in conscious rats. After hemorrhage (20 ml/kg body wt) BP decreased by 62 +/- 10 mmHg along with bradycardia (-110 +/- 15 beats/min) and renal sympathoinhibition (-50 +/- 8). Pretreatment of V1-receptor antagonist (5 mg/kg iv) did not affect the initial fall of BP but attenuated subsequent BP recovery. Bradycardic and renal sympathoinhibitory responses following hemorrhage were abolished (-14 +/- 24 beats/min and -7 +/- 9) by V1-receptor antagonist. Pretreatment of V2-receptor antagonist (1 mg/kg iv) did not affect the response of BP; however, it did slightly strengthen bradycardia and prolong renal sympathoinhibition. Hemorrhage increased the plasma AVP concentration more than 50-fold. These results indicate that when the plasma concentration of AVP is extremely high during hemorrhage, vasopressin via V1 receptor contributes to BP recovery by the peripheral vasoconstriction and exerts an inhibitory action on RSNA, and vasopressin via V2 receptor exerts opposite stimulatory action on RSNA.

scholarly journals Role of the medulla oblongata in normal and high arterial blood pressure regulation: the contribution of Escola Paulista de Medicina - UNIFESP

2009 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 589-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio L. Cravo ◽  
Ruy R. Campos ◽  
Eduardo Colombari ◽  
Mônica A. Sato ◽  
Cássia M. Bergamaschi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Arterial Blood Pressure ◽  
Medulla Oblongata ◽  
Neural Circuits ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Vasomotor Tone ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Pathological Conditions ◽  
De Medicina

Several forms of experimental evidence gathered in the last 37 years have unequivocally established that the medulla oblongata harbors the main neural circuits responsible for generating the vasomotor tone and regulating arterial blood pressure. Our current understanding of this circuitry derives mainly from the studies of Pedro Guertzenstein, a former student who became Professor of Physiology at UNIFESP later, and his colleagues. In this review, we have summarized the main findings as well as our collaboration to a further understanding of the ventrolateral medulla and the control of arterial blood pressure under normal and pathological conditions.

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