Role of endogenous opioids in the cardiovascular responses to asphyxia in fetal sheep

1989 ◽  
Vol 256 (5) ◽  
pp. R1063-R1068
Author(s):  
M. Espinoza ◽  
R. Riquelme ◽  
A. M. Germain ◽  
J. Tevah ◽  
J. T. Parer ◽  
...  

Intravenous administration of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone to asphyxiated fetal sheep increases the arterial blood pressure. We examined the hypothesis that endogenous opioids modify the cardiac output distribution during asphyxia due to changes in the vascular resistance of some fetal organs. Thirteen fetal sheep (0.8-0.9 of gestation) were chronically catheterized. Fetal asphyxia was induced by reducing the uterine blood flow with an inflatable occluder around the common internal iliac artery to approximately 50% of control for 40 min. Naloxone solution or the solvent alone was added for the last 20 min. Asphyxia caused hypertension, and the fetal arterial blood pressure further increased when asphyxiated fetuses received naloxone. Heart, brain, and adrenal blood flows increased due to the increase in blood pressure, with no changes in their vascular resistances. In contrast, kidney and carcass blood flows decreased, and their vascular resistances increased. We conclude that endogenous opioids inhibit the vasoconstriction of these vascular beds during fetal asphyxia.

2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (4) ◽  
pp. H1057-H1063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng-Xing Ma ◽  
Qun Fang ◽  
Brian Morgan ◽  
Michael G. Ross ◽  
Conrad R. Chao

The purpose of this study was to examine cardiovascular responses to fourth cerebral ventricle (4V) administration of nitroglycerin (NTG) or an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) in the near-term ovine and to determine whether, during birth, neuronal NOS (nNOS) is induced in noradrenergic A1 neurons in the medial nucleus tractus solitarius (mNTS). In chronically instrumented fetal sheep, 4V injection of NTG (1.2 nmol), an NO donor, produced an arterial blood depressor and a moderate decrease in heart rate. Arterial blood pressure is increased by 4V administration of N G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (10 nmnol), an inhibitor of NOS, in fetuses. Sections of the medulla from fetuses and newborn lambs were examined by using immunolabeling with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antibody combined with NADPH diaphorase (NADPHd) histochemistry, a marker of nNOS activity. The NADPHd-positive cells and TH-positive cells containing NADPHd reactivity were significantly increased in the mNTS of newborns compared with the fetuses. The results suggest that during birth, there is upregulation of NADPHd/nNOS in the noradrenergic neurons of mNTS resulting in a centrally mediated reduction of fetal arterial blood pressure.


2015 ◽  
Vol 309 (10) ◽  
pp. R1273-R1284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Magnusson ◽  
Kevin J. Cummings

The role of serotonin (5-HT) neurons in cardiovascular responses to acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) has not been studied in the neonatal period. We hypothesized that a partial loss of 5-HT neurons would reduce arterial blood pressure (BP) at rest, increase the fall in BP during hypoxia, and reduce the long-term facilitation of breathing (vLTF) and BP following AIH. We exposed 2-wk-old, 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine-treated and controls to AIH (10% O2; n = 13 control, 14 treated), acute intermittent hypercapnia (5% CO2; n = 12 and 11), or acute intermittent hypercapnic hypoxia (AIHH; 10% O2, 5% CO2; n = 15 and 17). We gave five 5-min challenges of AIH and acute intermittent hypercapnia, and twenty ∼20-s challenges of AIHH to mimic sleep apnea. Systolic BP (sBP), diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, heart rate (HR), ventilation (V̇e), and metabolic rate (V̇o2) were continuously monitored. 5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine induced an ∼35% loss of 5-HT neurons from the medullary raphe. Compared with controls, pups deficient in 5-HT neurons had reduced resting sBP (∼6 mmHg), mean arterial pressure (∼5 mmHg), and HR (56 beats/min), and experienced a reduced drop in BP during hypoxia. AIHH induced vLTF in both groups, reflected in increased V̇e and V̇e/V̇o2, and decreased arterial Pco2. The sBP of pups deficient in 5-HT neurons, but not controls, was increased 1 h following AIHH. Our data suggest that a relatively small loss of 5-HT neurons compromises resting BP and HR, but has no influence on ventilatory plasticity induced by AIHH. AIHH may be useful for reversing cardiorespiratory defects related to partial 5-HT system dysfunction.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 96 (6) ◽  
pp. 1101-1105
Author(s):  
Sai-Woon Liang ◽  
John M. Jemerin ◽  
Jeanne M. Tschann ◽  
Charles E. Irwin ◽  
Diane W. Wara ◽  
...  

Background. Risk behavior contributes to injuries, one of the most important sources of morbidity and mortality in adolescents. Although research has shown that environmental stress makes adolescents more likely to engage in risk behavior and to sustain injuries, the magnitude of these associations has been small. Little is known about the role of individual differences in psychobiologic reactivity to stress in moderating the impact of stressful events. In this study, we examined associations among environmental stressors, cardiovascular reactivity to stress, and the level of risk behavior in adolescent boys. Methods. Twenty-four 14- to 16-year-old boys underwent a laboratory protocol designed to measure responses to psychologically and physically stressful tasks. Changes in heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure were measured serially at standard points in the protocol, and levels of positive and negative life events and recent risk behavior were measured using self-report questionnaires. Results. Neither life events nor cardiovascular reactivity were independently associated with risk behavior. Positive life events and mean arterial blood pressure reactivity significantly interacted, however, in predicting risk behavior (R2 increment = .25). Boys with high reactivity who reported numerous positive life events engaged in markedly less risk behavior than their peers. Conclusion. We conclude that adolescents with exaggerated cardiovascular responses to laboratory stressors are associated with less risk behavior in a setting of positive life circumstances. This result suggests that reactivity may exert protective, rather than harmful, influences in some environments.


1991 ◽  
Vol 261 (2) ◽  
pp. R420-R426
Author(s):  
M. Inoue ◽  
J. T. Crofton ◽  
L. Share

We have examined in conscious rats the interaction between centrally acting prostanoids and acetylcholine in the stimulation of vasopressin secretion. The intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of carbachol (25 ng) resulted in marked transient increases in the plasma vasopressin concentration and mean arterial blood pressure and a transient reduction in heart rate. Central cyclooxygenase blockade by pretreatment icv with either meclofenamate (100 micrograms) or indomethacin (100 micrograms) virtually completely blocked these responses. Prostaglandin (PG) D2 (20 micrograms icv) caused transient increases in the plasma vasopressin concentration (much smaller than after carbachol) and heart rate, whereas mean arterial blood pressure rose gradually during the 15-min course of the experiment. Pretreatment with the muscarinic antagonist atropine (10 micrograms icv) decreased the peak vasopressin response to icv PGD2 by approximately one-third but had no effect on the cardiovascular responses. We conclude that the stimulation of vasopressin release by centrally acting acetylcholine is dependent on increased prostanoid biosynthesis. On the other hand, stimulation of vasopressin release by icv PGD2 is partially dependent on activation of a cholinergic pathway.


1981 ◽  
Author(s):  
G J Stewart ◽  
R G Schaub ◽  
R E Cartee

This study was done to correlate known cardiovascular responses to bradykinin (increased heart rate, lowered arterial blood pressure) with recently demonstrated endothelial damage and proposed venous dilation. Healthy dogs of mixed breed were used. Blood pressures and heart rate were monitored and recorded on a Narco physiograph. The diameter of a jugular vein was monitored with an ADR ultrasound machine using a 10 MHz probe with linear array of crystals and recorded on polaroid prints. Jugular veins and carotid arteries were removed and prepared for scanning electron microscopy after removal of blood and partial in situ fixation by whole body perfusion. The response of arterial pressure was dose dependent with no change at 6 ug/min, variable drop at 12 ug/min and 22-40% drop at 60 ug/min and above. Venous pressure increased in 1 dog but was unchanged in 4 others. The increase of heart rate paralled the drop in arterial blood pressure. The diameter of a jugular vein increased in 3 of 3 monitored dogs by 25, 33, 50% of baseline diameter (average increase 36%) with high (300 ug/min) bradykinin. Endothelial damage (microtears) occurred around 70-80% of branches, at some valves and on the main vessel occassionally. The tears were infiltrated with leukocytes and some red cells and platelets indicating that tearing occurred while blood was still circulating, i.e. before dissection for removal of vessels. Carotid arteries showed no tears. Dilation of arteries would be limited by their elastic layers (missing in veins). These observations show that venous dilation and endothelial tearing around side branches are part of the cardiovascular response to blood born bradykinin. They also show that venous dilation can be measured by ultrasound.


1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 760-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Biggs ◽  
V. Goel

The effects of sodium cromoglycate (SCG) on cardiovascular and pulmonary responses to phenylbiguanide, capsaicin, and vagal stimulation were studied in anesthetized guinea pigs. Phenylbiguanide had no bronchospastic activity but induced reflex changes in arterial blood pressure which were reduced or abolished by SCG. Capsaicin induced nonreflex bronchospasm, and decreases in arterial blood pressure that were unaffected by SCG. Sodium cromoglycate, given before or after atropine, had no effect on the bronchospasm and cardiovascular responses to unilateral or bilateral stimulation of the vagus nerves. We conclude that SCG may influence both the afferent and efferent pathways of responses to drugs.


1986 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 271-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Stebbins ◽  
J. C. Longhurst

We examined the contribution of bradykinin to the reflex hemodynamic response evoked by static contraction of the hindlimb of anesthetized cats. During electrical stimulation of ventral roots L7 and S1, we compared the cardiovascular responses to hindlimb contraction before and after the following interventions: inhibition of converting enzyme (kininase II) with captopril (3–4 mg/kg, n = 6); inhibition of kallikrein activity with aprotinin (Trasylol, 20,000–30,000 KIU/kg, n = 8); and injection of carboxypeptidase B (500–750 U/kg, n = 7). Treatment with captopril augmented the rise in mean arterial blood pressure and maximal time derivative of pressure (dP/dt) caused by static contraction from 21 +/- 3 to 39 +/- 7 mmHg and 1,405 +/- 362 to 2,285 +/- 564 mmHg/s, respectively. Aprotinin attenuated the contraction-induced rise in mean arterial blood pressure (28 +/- 4 to 9 +/- 2 mmHg) and maximal dP/dt (1,284 +/- 261 to 469 +/- 158 mmHg/s). Carboxypeptidase B reduced the cardiovascular response to static contraction. Thus the mean arterial blood pressure response was decreased from 36 +/- 12 to 24 +/- 11 mmHg, maximal dP/dt from 1,618 +/- 652 to 957 +/- 392 mmHg/s, and heart rate from 12 +/- 2 to 7 +/- 1 beats/min. These data suggest that stimulation of muscle afferents by bradykinin contributes to a portion of the reflex cardiovascular response to static contraction.


1988 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. W. Fellows ◽  
I. A. MacDonald ◽  
T. Bennett ◽  
D. P. O'Donoghue

1. On two separate occasions, at least 1 week apart, seven young healthy male subjects received intravenous infusions of either adrenaline [0.27 nmol (50 ng) min−1 kg−1] or saline (154 mmol/l NaCl), plus ascorbic acid (5.68 mmol/l), over 30 min. 2. On each occasion, the subjects were exposed to distal body subatmospheric pressure (DBSP), 0 to 50 mmHg (0 to 6.65 kPa) in 10 mmHg (1.33 kPa) steps, before infusion, during the final 15 min of the infusion, and at 15 min and 30 min after the cessation of the infusion. 3. Venous adrenaline concentrations of 2.85 ±0.22 nmol/l were achieved during the adrenaline infusion, compared with 0.49 ± 0.07 nmol/l during the saline infusion (P < 0.001). At 15 min and at 30 min after cessation of the adrenaline infusion, venous adrenaline concentrations had fallen to levels similar to those achieved after the cessation of the saline infusion. 4. Heart rate rose significantly from 58 ±4 beats/min to 67 ±4 beats/min during the adrenaline infusion (P < 0.05), but there was no further significant change in response to 50 mmHg (6.65 kPa) DBSP. At 30 min after the cessation of the adrenaline infusion, heart rate rose from 60 ± 4 beats/min to 78 ± 7 beats/min in response to 50 mmHg DBSP. This increase was significantly greater than that observed before the adrenaline infusion [58 ± 4 beats/min to 69 ±7 beats/min during 50 mmHg (6.65 kPa) DBSP; P < 0.01]. 5. During the infusion of adrenaline, systolic arterial blood pressure rose and diastolic arterial blood pressure fell, but the blood pressure responses to DBSP were unaffected. 6. Forearm blood flow increased significantly during adrenaline infusion but there was no significant difference in the fall in forearm blood flow during DBSP compared with the values before infusion. At 15 min after the cessation of the adrenaline infusion, forearm vascular resistance rose proportionately more in response to DBSP than it had before the adrenaline infusion (P < 0.05). 7. These results are consistent with adrenaline-mediated facilitation of sympathetic neuronal release of noradrenaline in the heart and in the forearm vascular bed.


1994 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dino A Giussani ◽  
John AD Spencer ◽  
Mark A Hanson

The fetus mounts a coordinated cardiovascular response to an insult of acute hypoxaemia which involves neural and endocrine components. During acute hypoxaemia in late pregnancy there is a transient bradycardia, a gradual increase in arterial blood pressure and an increase in heart rate variability. In addition, there is a redistribution of the combined ventricular output favouring the cerebral, myocardial and adrenal circulations by shunting blood away from the peripheral circulations. A component of the increase in peripheral vascular resistance and the increase in arterial blood pressure during acute hypoxaemia is mediated via increases in plasma concentrations of vasoconstrictor hormones such as vasopressin, angiotensin II and neuropeptide Y. Whilst an increase in plasma ACTH and cortisol is also seen during acute hypoxaemia, their contribution to cardiovascular control in fetal sheep is less clear.Evidence has been presented to suggest that a number of these cardiovascular and endocrine responses to acute hypoxaemia are chemorefiex in nature, mediated principally by carotid chemoreceptor afferents. In addition, this reflex may be modifiable in terms of changes in magnitude and gain: first, by an influence of the intrauterine environment during chronic hypoxaemia and second, through genetic influences, in animals adapted to life at high altitude.


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (6) ◽  
pp. R1156-R1163 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Maixner ◽  
R. H. Gracely ◽  
J. R. Zuniga ◽  
C. B. Humphrey ◽  
G. R. Bloodworth

The relationship between cardiovascular responses and pain produced by the submaximal-effort tourniquet procedure was evaluated in healthy humans. Graded increases in ischemic pain were associated with graded elevations in arterial blood pressure, forearm vascular resistance, and venous tone. Many of the vascular responses to muscle ischemia were typical of the cardiovascular components of the defense reaction and correlated with both the sensory and affective aspects of ischemic pain. The cardiovascular responses to arm ischemia were distinguishable from those produced by rhythmic hand exercise used to produce ischemia. Dynamic hand exercise produced a transient increase in arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and measures of hand discomfort. These responses were enhanced when dynamic hand exercise was conducted under ischemic conditions. The tightly coupled and coordinated cardiovascular responses elicited by ischemic pain represent integrated adaptive responses to painful stimulation.


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