scholarly journals Neurogenic mechanisms underlying the rapid onset of sympathetic responses to intermittent hypoxia

2015 ◽  
Vol 119 (12) ◽  
pp. 1441-1448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Mifflin ◽  
J. Thomas Cunningham ◽  
Glenn M. Toney
Keyword(s):  
Intermittent Hypoxia ◽  
Nucleus Tractus Solitarius ◽  
Rapid Onset ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Lamina Terminalis ◽  
Ang Ii ◽  
Diurnal Period ◽  
Excitatory Drive ◽  
Arterial Chemoreceptor ◽  
Nerve Discharge

Sleep apnea (SA) leads to metabolic abnormalities and cardiovascular dysfunction. Rodent models of nocturnal intermittent hypoxia (IH) are used to mimic arterial hypoxemias that occur during SA. This mini-review focuses on our work examining central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms whereby nocturnal IH results in increased sympathetic nerve discharge (SND) and hypertension (HTN) that persist throughout the 24-h diurnal period. Within the first 1-2 days of IH, arterial pressure (AP) increases even during non-IH periods of the day. Exposure to IH for 7 days biases nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) neurons receiving arterial chemoreceptor inputs toward increased discharge, providing a substrate for persistent activation of sympathetic outflow. IH HTN is blunted by manipulations that reduce angiotensin II (ANG II) signaling within the forebrain lamina terminalis suggesting that central ANG II supports persistent IH HTN. Inhibition of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) reduces ongoing SND and acutely lowers AP in IH-conditioned animals. These findings support a role for the PVN, which integrates information ascending from NTS and descending from the lamina terminalis, in sustaining IH HTN. In summary, our findings indicate that IH rapidly and persistently activates a central circuit that includes the NTS, forebrain lamina terminalis, and the PVN. Our working model holds that NTS neuromodulation increases transmission of arterial chemoreceptor inputs, increasing SND via connections with PVN and rostral ventrolateral medulla. Increased circulating ANG II sensed by the lamina terminalis generates yet another excitatory drive to PVN. Together with adaptations intrinsic to the PVN, these responses to IH support rapid onset neurogenic HTN.

Effect of intravenous angiotensin II on Fos distribution and drinking behavior in rabbits

1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (5) ◽  
pp. R1515-R1524 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Badoer ◽  
D. McKinlay
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Angiotensin Ii ◽  
Intravenous Infusion ◽  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Lamina Terminalis ◽  
Ang Ii ◽  
Solitary Tract ◽  
Cell Nuclei ◽  
Drinking Response

We investigated the effect of intravenous infusion of angiotensin II (ANG II, 40 ng.kg-1.min-1) on the distribution of Fos in the subfornical organ (SFO), organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT), and the medulla of the conscious rabbit. ANG II elicited significant increases in the number of Fos-positive cell nuclei in the SFO and OVLT (15- and 10-fold, respectively). Raising blood pressure with phenylephrine did not elicit Fos in these nuclei. These nuclei are believed to be responsible for the dipsogenic actions of ANG II; however, ANG II was not dipsogenic. When blood pressure was held at preinfusion levels by the coadministration of sodium nitroprus-side and ANG II, the rabbits did not drink but Fos production in the lamina terminalis was elevated. In the medulla, ANG II did not significantly increase Fos production in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) or ventrolateral medulla (VLM). However, with the coadministration of sodium nitroprusside, there were marked increases in the NTS and VLM. The results suggest that neurons in the SFO and OVLT are either not involved in the dipsogenic pathways or there is disruption further downstream in the central pathways that would normally mediate a drinking response to ANG II.

scholarly journals Knockdown of tyrosine hydroxylase in the nucleus of the solitary tract reduces elevated blood pressure during chronic intermittent hypoxia

2013 ◽  
Vol 305 (9) ◽  
pp. R1031-R1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandra Sekhar Bathina ◽  
Anuradha Rajulapati ◽  
Michelle Franzke ◽  
Kenta Yamamoto ◽  
J. Thomas Cunningham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tyrosine Hydroxylase ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Intermittent Hypoxia ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Nucleus Tractus Solitarius ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Green Fluorescent

Noradrenergic A2 neurons in nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) respond to stressors such as hypoxia. We hypothesize that tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) knockdown in NTS reduces cardiovascular responses to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), a model of the arterial hypoxemia observed during sleep apnea in humans. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with radiotelemetry transmitters and adeno-associated viral constructs with green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter having either short hairpin RNA (shRNA) for TH or scrambled virus (scRNA) were injected into caudal NTS. Virus-injected rats were exposed to 7 days of CIH (alternating periods of 10% O2 and of 21% O2 from 8 AM to 4 PM; from 4 PM to 8 AM rats were exposed to 21% O2). CIH increased mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) during the day in both the scRNA ( n = 14, P < 0.001 MAP and HR) and shRNA ( n = 13, P < 0.001 MAP and HR) groups. During the night, MAP and HR remained elevated in the scRNA rats ( P < 0.001 MAP and HR) but not in the shRNA group. TH immunoreactivity and protein were reduced in the shRNA group. FosB/ΔFosB immunoreactivity was decreased in paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of shRNA group ( P < 0.001). However, the shRNA group did not show any change in the FosB/ΔFosB immunoreactivity in the rostral ventrolateral medulla. Exposure to CIH increased MAP which persisted beyond the period of exposure to CIH. Knockdown of TH in the NTS reduced this CIH-induced persistent increase in MAP and reduced the transcriptional activation of PVN. This indicates that NTS A2 neurons play a role in the cardiovascular responses to CIH.

scholarly journals Blockade of angiotensin AT1-receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla of spontaneously hypertensive rats reduces blood pressure and sympathetic nerve discharge

2001 ◽  
Vol 2 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. S120-S124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew M Allen
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat ◽  
Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Ang Ii ◽  
At1 Receptors ◽  
Spontaneously Hypertensive ◽  
Hypertensive Rat ◽  
Nerve Discharge

Microinjections of angiotensin II (Ang II) into the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) induce a sympathetically-mediated increase in blood pressure (BP), through an interaction with AT1-receptors. Under basal conditions in anaesthetised animals, microinjections of AT 1-receptor antagonists into the RVLM have little, or no effect on BP, suggesting that the angiotensin input to this nucleus is not tonically active. In contrast, microinjections of AT1-receptor antagonists into the RVLM of sodium-deplete rats and TGR(mRen2)27 rats, induce a depressor response through sympatho-inhibition. This indicates that when the renin-angiotensin system is activated, angiotensin can act in the RVLM to support sympathetic nerve discharge and BP. This study examined whether angiotensin inputs to the RVLM are activated in the spontaneously hypertensive rat — a pathophysiological model which displays increases in both brain angiotensin levels and sympathetic nerve activity. Bilateral microinjections of the AT 1-receptor antagonist candesartan cilexetil, (1 nmol in 100 nl), into the RVLM of the spontaneously hypertensive rat induced a significant decrease in lumbar sympathetic nerve discharge (-18±2%) and BP (140±6 to 115±6 mmHg). In contrast, similar microinjections in the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat had no effect on BP or sympathetic nerve discharge. These results are interpreted to suggest that Ang II inputs to the RVLM are activated in the spontaneously hypertensive rat to maintain an elevated level of sympathetic nerve discharge, even in the face of increased BP.

Electrophysiological evidence that systemic angiotensin influences rat area postrema neurons

1990 ◽  
Vol 258 (1) ◽  
pp. R70-R76 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Papas ◽  
P. Smith ◽  
A. V. Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Tractus Solitarius ◽  
Area Postrema ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Ang Ii ◽  
Adrenergic Agonist ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Spontaneous Activities ◽  
Single Unit Recordings ◽  
Body Fluid Balance

Extracellular single-unit recordings from neurons in the area postrema (AP) and the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) in anesthetized male rats demonstrated that most cells in these regions have spontaneous activities of 5 Hz or less. Systemic angiotensin (ANG II) (50-500 ng) enhanced the activity of 55% of AP cells tested (n = 76), whereas 53% of tested NTS neurons (n = 62) were inhibited by ANG II. To determine whether these neurons were influenced specifically by circulating ANG II or by the accompanying increase in mean arterial blood pressure (BP), the effects of adrenergic agonists given intravenously on ANG II influenced neurons were also examined. Subsequently two cell types were characterized: cells responding to iv ANG II but not to the adrenergic agonist ("ANG II sensitive") and cells responding in a similar way to both agents ("BP sensitive"). Most ANG II-responsive neurons in the AP (53.5%) and the NTS (65%) were determined to be BP sensitive. These data demonstrate that ANG II influences the activity of AP neurons. In addition, there exists a second population of AP neurons apparently responsive to perturbations of the cardiovascular system. These studies further emphasize the potential roles of the AP in the regulation of body fluid balance.

Cerebral metabolic responses and vasopressin and oxytocin secretions during progressive water deprivation in rats

1992 ◽  
Vol 262 (2) ◽  
pp. R310-R317 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kadekaro ◽  
J. Y. Summy-Long ◽  
S. Freeman ◽  
J. S. Harris ◽  
M. L. Terrell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Deprivation ◽  
Glucose Utilization ◽  
Extracellular Volume ◽  
Plasma Osmolality ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Ang Ii ◽  
Neural Lobe ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Organum Vasculosum Laminae Terminalis ◽  
Enhanced Secretion

Progressive water deprivation increased plasma osmolality, plasma Na+ concentration, and hematocrit in proportion to the severity of dehydration. With increases of 2% in plasma osmolality (24 h dehydration), glucose utilization increased in the supraoptic nuclei and tended to increase in the neural lobe. With further dehydration, glucose utilization also increased in the paraventricular nuclei. These increases were paralleled by depletion of vasopressin and oxytocin contents in the neural lobe and by the enhanced secretion of both hormones into plasma, with a predominant increase of vasopressin. These changes were proportional to the degree of dehydration. With progression of dehydration, decreases in intracellular and extracellular volumes accentuate. Reductions in extracellular volume result in increased angiotensin II (ANG II) formation. Accordingly, glucose utilization in the subfornical organ (SFO), a primary site of ANG II action, increased after 48 and 72 h of dehydration. The median preoptic nucleus, which receives direct inputs from the SFO, also increased glucose utilization at these times. Glucose utilization also increased in the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis, probably in response to the converging inputs from osmoreceptors, volume receptors, and ANG II receptors. Decreases in glucose utilization were observed in the caudal and rostral ventrolateral medulla, perhaps as compensatory responses to decreased extracellular volume to prevent fall in arterial blood pressure.

Electrical stimulation of cervical vagal afferents. II. Central relays for behavioral antinociception and arterial blood pressure decreases

1990 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 1115-1124 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Randich ◽  
K. Ren ◽  
G. F. Gebhart
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Arterial Blood Pressure ◽  
Nucleus Tractus Solitarius ◽  
Cardiovascular Response ◽  
Ibotenic Acid ◽  
Vagal Afferents ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Tail Flick ◽  
Threshold Intensity ◽  
Arterial Blood

1. Supraspinal substrates mediating vagal afferent stimulation (VAS)-induced inhibition of the nociceptive tail-flick reflex were examined by the use of the soma-selective neurotoxin ibotenic acid and the nonselective local anesthetic lidocaine. Fifty rats were studied in the lightly anesthetized state maintained with pentobarbital sodium. 2. The threshold intensity of VAS required to inhibit the tail-flick reflex to a cut-off latency of 10 s was established in all rats. Ibotenic acid (5 or 10 micrograms, 0.5 microliter) or lidocaine (4%, 0.5 microliter) was then microinjected into various regions of the brain stem followed by reestablishment of the intensity of VAS required to produce inhibition of the tail-flick reflex. 3. Microinjections of ibotenic acid into the ipsilateral nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), medial rostroventral medulla (principally the nucleus raphe magnus; NRM), or bilaterally into the dorsolateral pons (principally the locus coeruleus/subcoeruleus; LC/SC), significantly increased the threshold intensity of VAS required to inhibit the tail-flick reflex. Microinjections of ibotenic acid into either the rostral or caudal ventrolateral medulla (RVLM or CVLM, respectively) ipsilateral to the vagus nerve stimulated or ipsilateral LC/SC did not significantly affect the inhibition produced by VAS. Arterial blood pressure decreases produced by VAS were significantly attenuated or eliminated after microinjections of ibotenic acid into the NTS, RVLM, CVLM, or NRM. Lidocaine microinjected into the ipsilateral CVLM also significantly increased the intensity of VAS required to inhibit the tail-flick reflex. 4. These outcomes obtained with behavioral measures are consistent with the outcomes of the preceding study using electrophysiological measures in establishing that cells in the NTS, LC/SC, and NRM regions and fibers of passage in the CVLM are important in mediating the inhibitory effects of VAS. The present studies confirm previous reports of the importance of the RVLM and CVLM in VAS-produced depressor responses but also demonstrate that the NRM is critical for this cardiovascular response.

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.

Baroreflex modulation by angiotensins at the rat rostral and caudal ventrolateral medulla

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (4) ◽  
pp. R1027-R1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andréia C. Alzamora ◽  
Robson A. S. Santos ◽  
Maria J. Campagnole-Santos
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Baroreflex Sensitivity ◽  
Opposite Effect ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Ang Ii ◽  
Differential Modulation ◽  
Baroreflex Control ◽  
Caudal Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Angiotensin Peptides ◽  
Reflex Bradycardia

We determined the effect of microinjection of ANG-(1–7) and ANG II into two key regions of the medulla that control the circulation [rostral and caudal ventrolateral medulla (RVLM and CVLM, respectively)] on baroreflex control of heart rate (HR) in anesthetized rats. Reflex bradycardia and tachycardia were induced by increases and decreases in mean arterial pressure produced by intravenous phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside, respectively. The pressor effects of ANG-(1–7) and ANG II (25 pmol) after RVLM microinjection (11 ± 0.8 and 10 ± 2 mmHg, respectively) were not accompanied by consistent changes in HR. In addition, RVLM microinjection of these angiotensin peptides did not alter the bradycardic or tachycardic component of the baroreflex. CVLM microinjections of ANG-(1–7) and ANG II produced hypotension (−11 ± 1.5 and −11 ± 1.9 mmHg, respectively) that was similarly not accompanied by significant changes in HR. However, CVLM microinjections of angiotensins induced differential changes in the baroreflex control of HR. ANG-(1–7) attenuated the baroreflex bradycardia (0.26 ± 0.06 ms/mmHg vs. 0.42 ± 0.08 ms/mmHg before treatment) and facilitated the baroreflex tachycardia (0.86 ± 0.19 ms/mmHg vs. 0.42 ± 0.10 ms/mmHg before treatment); ANG II produced the opposite effect, attenuating baroreflex tachycardia (0.09 ± 0.06 ms/mmHg vs. 0.31 ± 0.07 ms/mmHg before treatment) and facilitating the baroreflex bradycardia (0.67 ± 0.16 ms/mmHg vs. 0.41 ± 0.05 ms/mmHg before treatment). The modulatory effect of ANG II and ANG-(1–7) on baroreflex sensitivity was completely abolished by peripheral administration of methylatropine. These results suggest that ANG II and ANG-(1–7) at the CVLM produce a differential modulation of the baroreflex control of HR, probably through distinct effects on the parasympathetic drive to the heart.

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