Commissural NTS contributes to pressor responses to glutamate injected into the medial NTS of awake rats

1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (6) ◽  
pp. R1220-R1225 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Colombari ◽  
J. V. Menani ◽  
W. T. Talman

In the present study we investigated whether interruption of the chemoreceptor reflex by an electrolytic lesion of the commissural subnucleus of the nucleus tractus solitarii (commNTS) influenced pressor and bradycardic responses induced by microinjection of L-glutamate (L-Glu) into the medial NTS (mNTS) of conscious rats. Seven days after sham lesions, seven rats demonstrated significant pressor [change in mean arterial pressure (MAP) = +33 +/- 3 mmHg] and bradycardic [change in heart rate (HR) = -74 +/- 8 beats/min (bpm)] responses to chemoreceptor reflex activation by intravenous injection of KCN. Likewise, L-Glu (1 nmol in 100 nl) injected into the mNTS in sham rats induced pressor (+29 +/- 2 mmHg) and bradycardic responses (-90 +/- 8 bpm). However, in 11 rats with lesions in commNTS, pressor and bradycardic chemoreceptor reflex responses were abolished, and injection of L-Glu into the mNTS decreased MAP (-14 +/- 6 mmHg) and HR (-59 +/- 16 bpm) as is reported in anesthetized control rats. We conclude that pressor responses induced by L-Glu microinjected into the baroreceptor reflex region of mNTS in conscious rats depend on the integrity of the commNTS, which plays an important role in central chemoreceptor reflex pathways.

1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (6) ◽  
pp. H1902-H1910 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Carlos Callera ◽  
Leni G. H. Bonagamba ◽  
Anne Nosjean ◽  
Raul Laguzzi ◽  
Benedito H. Machado

In the present study we analyzed effects of bilateral microinjections of muscimol (a GABAA agonist) and baclofen (a GABAB agonist) into the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) on bradycardic and pressor responses to chemoreflex activation (potassium cyanide, 40 μg/rat iv) in awake rats. Bilateral microinjections of muscimol (25 and 50 pmol/50 nl) into the NTS increased baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP): 119 ± 8 vs. 107 ± 2 mmHg ( n = 6) and 121 ± 8 vs. 103 ± 3 mmHg ( n= 6), respectively. Muscimol at 25 pmol/50 nl reduced the bradycardic response to chemoreflex activation 5 min after microinjection; with 50 pmol/50 nl the bradycardic response to chemoreflex activation was reduced 5, 15, 30, and 60 min after microinjection. Neither muscimol dose produced an effect on the pressor response of the chemoreflex. Effects of muscimol (50 pmol/50 nl) on basal MAP and on the bradycardic response of the chemoreflex were prevented by prior microinjection of bicuculline (a GABAA antagonist, 40 pmol/50 nl) into the NTS. Bilateral microinjections of baclofen (12.5 and 25 pmol/50 nl) into the NTS produced an increase in baseline MAP [137 ± 9 vs. 108 ± 4 ( n= 7) and 145 ± 5 vs. 105 ± 2 mmHg ( n = 7), respectively], no changes in basal heart rate, and no effects on the bradycardic response; 25 pmol/50 nl only attenuated the pressor response to chemoreflex activation. The data show that activation of GABAA receptors in the NTS produces a significant reduction in the bradycardic response, whereas activation of GABAB receptors produces a significant reduction in the pressor response of the chemoreflex. We conclude that 1) GABAA but not GABAB plays an inhibitory role in neurons of the lateral commissural NTS involved in the parasympathetic component of the chemoreflex and 2) attenuation of the pressor response of the chemoreflex by activation of GABAB receptors may be due to inhibition of sympathoexcitatory neurons in the NTS or may be secondary to the large increase in baseline MAP produced by baclofen.


1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (2) ◽  
pp. H779-H782 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Knuepfer ◽  
C. A. Branch ◽  
P. J. Mueller ◽  
Q. Gan

Cocaine use and behavioral stress elicit variable cardiovascular responses in individuals. In the present study, we examined the effects of cocaine or stress on arterial pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output in conscious rats. Rats were instrumented for determination of ascending aortic blood flow as an index of cardiac output using pulsed Doppler flow-metry. Cocaine administration elicited consistent decreases in cardiac output in some rats, whereas others had increases. In contrast, the pressor and heart rate responses were similar in these two groups of animals. Air jet stress also elicited a decrease in cardiac output only in a subset of conscious rats, yet produced equivalent pressor responses in all rats. Cardiac output responses to cocaine and air jet stress were closely correlated in individual rats, indicating that these stimuli evoke similar hemodynamic responses in individual rats. These observations suggest that the rat may provide a model for understanding differential cardiovascular sensitivity to cocaine and/or stress in humans.


1992 ◽  
Vol 262 (6) ◽  
pp. R1100-R1105 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Hines ◽  
W. M. Barron

We tested the hypothesis that augmented arterial baroreflex activity contributes to attenuation of pressor responses in intact pregnant animals by comparing changes in blood pressure and heart rate during infusions of angiotensin II, phenylephrine, and vasopressin in chronically instrumented pregnant and virgin rats approximately 5 wk after sinoaortic denervation (SAD) or sham surgery. Baseline mean arterial pressure was significantly lower in pregnant animals in both the sham-operated (pregnant 91.7 +/- 1.7 mmHg, virgin 103.7 +/- 2.5 mmHg) and SAD states (pregnant 107.3 +/- 4.0 mmHg, virgin 114.1 +/- 4.0 mmHg). Pressor responses to all three agents were significantly blunted in pregnant animals compared with similarly treated virgins, with the magnitude of attenuation similar in both sham and SAD states. Heart rate decreased similarly in reflex-intact pregnant and virgin animals during pressor infusions. These findings suggest that attenuated pressor responses in the pregnant rat are due primarily to mechanisms other than augmentation of arterial baroreflex activity and are consistent with a generalized reduction in vascular sensitivity during gestation.


1993 ◽  
Vol 264 (2) ◽  
pp. R345-R349
Author(s):  
K. Shimizu ◽  
J. Schwartz ◽  
B. P. McGrath

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) enhances reflex buffering of its own pressor response, thus attenuating its vasoconstrictor potential in vivo. To investigate the extent to which this effect of AVP is mediated by V1 or V2 receptors, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) changes were examined in response to graded injections of AVP or [Phe2,Orn8]oxytocin, a potent, selective V1-receptor agonist, in the absence and presence of infusion of [Val4,D-Arg8]VP, a selective V2-receptor agonist. Responses were compared in intact and autonomically blocked conscious rats. During autonomic blockade with methscopolamine and hexamethonium, the pressor sensitivities to AVP and [Phe2,Orn8]oxytocin were similarly increased. Infusion of the V2-receptor agonist had no effect by itself on MAP or HR in conscious intact rats. It also did not alter the pressor responses to the V1 agonist, in either intact or autonomically blocked rats. In the presence of the V2 agonist, the decrease in heart rate induced by the V1 agonist was enhanced. These results indicate that reflex buffering of the pressor response to AVP in the conscious rat is mediated by V1 and not V2 receptors. However, V2 receptors may be involved in modulating the heart rate response to AVP.


1992 ◽  
Vol 263 (1) ◽  
pp. R89-R94 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Campagnole-Santos ◽  
S. B. Heringer ◽  
E. N. Batista ◽  
M. C. Khosla ◽  
R. A. Santos

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of intracerebroventricular (icv) and intravenous (iv) infusion of angiotensin (ANG)-(1-7), ANG III, and ANG II on the baroreceptor control of heart rate (BHR) in conscious rats. Reflex changes in HR were elicited by bolus iv injection of either phenylephrine or sodium nitroprusside before and within 1 and 3 h of icv infusion of ANG II (n = 10), ANG III (n = 9), ANG-(1-7) (n = 9), or saline (n = 9) at a rate of 3 nmol.7.5 microliter-1.h-1. In another group of animals (n = 23), iv infusion of the same amount of ANG peptides was carried out at a rate of 0.7 ml/h. The average ratio of changes in HR in beats per minute and changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP, mmHg) was used as an index of BHR sensitivity. ANG II and ANG III produced a significant increase in the basal levels of MAP, but only during the first hour of infusion (iv or icv). No significant changes in baseline HR were observed. ANG-(1-7) and saline infusion did not change basal levels of HR or MAP (iv or icv). ANG II (iv and icv) and ANG III (icv) caused a significant decrease in the BHR sensitivity for reflex bradycardia. In contrast, icv infusion of ANG-(1-7) induced a significant increase in BHR sensitivity for reflex bradycardia (-3.0 +/- 0.3, 1 h, and -2.8 +/- 0.1 beats.min-1.mmHg-1, 3 h vs. -2.1 +/- 0.2 beats.min-1.mmHg-1, before infusion).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (5) ◽  
pp. H2361-H2368 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Davisson ◽  
M. D. Travis ◽  
J. N. Bates ◽  
A. K. Johnson ◽  
S. J. Lewis

This study examined whether the stereoselective actions of S-nitrosocysteine (SNC) in the central nervous system involves the activation of stereoselective SNC recognition sites. We examined the effects produced by intracerebroventricular injection of the L- and D-isomers of SNC (L- and D-SNC) on mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and vascular resistances in conscious rats. We also examined the hemodynamic effects produced by intracerebroventricular injections of 1) L-cystine, the major non-nitric oxide (NO) decomposition product of L-SNC, 2) the parent thiols L- and D-cysteine, and 3) the bulky S-nitrosothiol L-S-nitroso-gamma-glutamylcysteinylglycine [L-S-nitrosoglutathione, (L-SNOG)]. Finally, we examined the decomposition of L- and D-SNC and L-SNOG to NO on their addition to brain homogenates. The intracerebroventricular injection of L-SNC (250-1,000 nmol) produced falls in mean arterial pressure, increases in heart rate, and a dose-dependent pattern of changes in hindquarter, renal, and mesenteric vascular resistances. The intracerebroventricular injections of D-SNC, L-cystine, and L-SNOG produced only minor effects. The intracerebroventricular injection of L-cysteine produced pressor responses and tachycardia, whereas D-cysteine was inactive. L- and D-SNC decomposed equally to NO on addition to brain homogenates. L-SNOG decomposed to similar amounts of NO as L- and D-SNC. These results suggest that SNC may activate stereoselective SNC recognition sites on brain neurons and that S-nitrosothiols of substantially different structure do not stimulate these sites. These recognition sites may be stereoselective membrane-bound receptors for which L-SNC is the unique ligand.


1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (5) ◽  
pp. E690-E698 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. Magness ◽  
C. R. Parker ◽  
C. R. Rosenfeld

Human and ovine pregnancies are associated with increases in plasma levels of estrogens and angiotensin II (ANG II), cardiac output (CO), blood volume (BV), and uterine blood flow (UBF), as well as attenuated ANG II pressor responses. We hypothesized that, in nonpregnant animals, prolonged estradiol-17 beta (E2 beta) treatment would reproduce these endocrine and hemodynamic alterations. Nonpregnant ovariectomized ewes (n = 5) received 5 microgram E2 beta/kg iv followed by 220 micrograms/day for 14 days. Plasma E2 beta increased from 36 +/- 6 to 269 +/- 79 (SE) pg/ml (P < 0.05) during E2 beta treatment, returning to control values 4 days posttreatment. By 3 days of E2 beta, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) fell 9 +/- 1 and 29 +/- 1%, whereas heart rate (HR) and CO increased 20 +/- 5 and 26 +/- 1% (P < 0.05). Stroke volume (SV), BV, and plasma volume were unchanged until 7 days of E2 beta, with values rising 17 +/- 5, 13 +/- 3, and 14 +/- 4, respectively (P < 0.05). Although MAP remained similarly depressed (-11 +/- 1%) during week 2 of E2 beta, SVR decreased further (-37 +/- 3%) and was associated with additional increases (P < 0.05) in CO to 44 +/- 5%, reflecting rises in SV (21 +/- 2%) but not HR. Increases in BV correlated with rises in CO (r = 0.55) and SV (r = 0.64) but not HR (r = -0.04).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (4) ◽  
pp. R1020-R1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lachlan M. McDowall ◽  
Jouji Horiuchi ◽  
Suzanne Killinger ◽  
Roger A. L. Dampney

Neurons within the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) and perifornical area (PeF), which lie within the classic hypothalamic defense area, subserve the cardiovascular response to psychological stress. Previous studies have shown that electrical stimulation of the hypothalamic defense area causes inhibition of the cardiac and (in some cases) sympathetic components of the baroreceptor reflex. In contrast, naturally evoked psychological stress does not appear to be associated with such inhibition. In this study, we tested the effect of specific activation of neurons within the DMH and PeF on the baroreflex control of renal sympathetic nerve activity and heart rate in urethane-anesthetized rats. Microinjection of bicuculline (a GABAA receptor antagonist) into the DMH caused dose-dependent increases in heart rate and renal sympathetic activity, shifted the baroreflex control of both variables to higher levels (i.e., increased the upper and lower plateaus of the baroreflex function curves, and increased the threshold, midpoint, and saturation levels of mean arterial pressure). The maximum gain of the sympathetic component of the baroreflex was also increased, while that of the cardiac component was not significantly changed. Increases in the midpoint were very similar in magnitude to the evoked increases in baseline mean arterial pressure. Microinjection of bicuculline into the PeF evoked very similar effects. The results indicate that disinhibition of neurons in the DMH/PeF region not only increases sympathetic vasomotor activity and heart rate but also resets the baroreceptor reflex such that it remains effective, without any decrease in sensitivity, over a higher operating range of arterial pressure.


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