Modulation of cardiovascular excitatory responses in rats by transcutaneous magnetic stimulation: role of the spinal cord

2006 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 926-932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhou (Yi Syuu) ◽  
Ian Hsiao ◽  
Vernon W. H. Lin ◽  
John C. Longhurst
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Median Nerve ◽  
Opioid Receptors ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Pressor Response ◽  
Intrathecal Injection ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
Opioid Antagonist ◽  
Gastric Distension ◽  
Cardiovascular Reflex

This study investigated the efficacy of magnetic stimulation on the reflex cardiovascular responses induced by gastric distension in anesthetized rats and compared these responses to those influenced by electroacupuncture (EA). Unilateral magnetic stimulation (30% intensity, 2 Hz) at the Jianshi-Neiguan acupoints (pericardial meridian, P 5–6) overlying the median nerve on the forelimb for 24 min significantly decreased the reflex pressor response by 32%. This effect was noticeable by 20 min of magnetic stimulation and continued for 24 min. Median nerve denervation abolished the inhibitory effect of magnetic stimulation, indicating the importance of somatic afferent input. Unilateral EA (0.3–0.5 mA, 2 Hz) at P 5–6 using similar durations of stimulation similarly inhibited the response (35%). The inhibitory effects of EA occurred earlier and were marginally longer (20 min) than magnetic stimulation. Magnetic stimulation at Guangming-Xuanzhong acupoints (gallbladder meridian, GB 37–39) overlying the superficial peroneal nerve on the hindlimb did not attenuate the reflex. Intravenous naloxone immediately after termination of magnetic stimulation reversed inhibition of the cardiovascular reflex, suggesting involvement of the opioid system. Also, intrathecal injection of δ- and κ-opioid receptors antagonists, ICI174,864 ( n = 7) and nor-binaltorphimine ( n = 6) immediately after termination of magnetic stimulation reversed inhibition of the cardiovascular reflex. In contrast, the μ-opioid antagonist CTOP ( n = 7) failed to alter the cardiovascular reflex. The endogenous neurotransmitters for δ- and κ-opioid receptors, enkephalins and dynorphin but not β-endorphin, therefore appear to play significant roles in the spinal cord in mediating magnetic stimulation-induced modulation of cardiovascular reflex responses.

scholarly journals Intrathecal injection of brilliant blue G, a P2X7 antagonist, attenuates the exercise pressor reflex in rats

2020 ◽  
Vol 319 (2) ◽  
pp. R223-R232
Author(s):  
Juan A. Estrada ◽  
Guillaume P. Ducrocq ◽  
Joyce S. Kim ◽  
Marc P. Kaufman
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Pressor Response ◽  
Intrathecal Injection ◽  
P2x Receptors ◽  
Brilliant Blue ◽  
Brilliant Blue G ◽  
P2x7 Receptors ◽  
P2x3 Receptors ◽  
Exercise Pressor Reflex ◽  
Pressor Reflex

Purinergic 2X (P2X) receptors on the endings of group III and IV afferents play a role in evoking the exercise pressor reflex. Particular attention has been paid to P2X3 receptors because their blockade in the periphery attenuated this reflex. In contrast, nothing is known about the role played by P2X receptors in the spinal cord in evoking the exercise pressor reflex in rats. P2X7 receptors, in particular, may be especially important in this regard because they are found in abundance on spinal glial cells and may communicate with neurons to effect reflexes controlling cardiovascular function. Consequently, we investigated the role played by spinal P2X7 receptors in evoking the exercise pressor reflex in decerebrated rats. We found that intrathecal injection of the P2X7 antagonist brilliant blue G (BBG) attenuated the exercise pressor reflex (blood pressure index: 294 ± 112 mmHg·s before vs. 7 ± 32 mmHg·s after; P < 0.05). Likewise, intrathecal injection of minocycline, which inhibits microglial cell output, attenuated the reflex. In contrast, intrathecal injection of BBG did not attenuate the pressor response evoked by intracarotid injection of sodium cyanide, a maneuver that stimulated carotid chemoreceptors. Moreover, injections of BBG either into the arterial supply of the contracting hindlimb muscles or into the jugular vein did not attenuate the exercise pressor reflex. Our findings support the hypothesis that P2X7 receptors on microglial cells within the spinal cord play a role in evoking the exercise pressor reflex.

Endogenous bradykinin in the thoracic spinal cord contributes to the exercise pressor reflex

1996 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 1288-1294 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Stebbins ◽  
S. Bonigut
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Intrathecal Injection ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Thoracic Spinal Cord ◽  
Exercise Pressor Reflex ◽  
Thoracic Spinal ◽  
Pressor Reflex ◽  
Hoe 140

This investigation tested the hypothesis that bradykinin causes excitatory effects in the thoracic spinal cord that augment the exercise pressor reflex. Thus we performed 30 s of electrically stimulated static contraction of the hindlimb in the anesthetized cat (alpha-chloralose) to provoke reflex-induced increases in mean arterial pressure, maximal rate of rise of left ventricular pressure (dP/dt), and heart rate (i.e., the exercise pressor reflex). These three responses were compared before and 15 min after intrathecal injection of 2 micrograms (n = 3), 10 micrograms (n = 6), or 50 micrograms (n = 3) of the selective bradykinin B2- receptor antagonist HOE-140 into the thoracic spinal cord or 10 micrograms of this antagonist into the lumbar (n = 3) spinal cord. In three of the six cats in which 10 micrograms of HOE-140 were injected into the thoracic spinal cord, an additional contraction was performed 60-90 min after treatment. The 2-microgram dose of HOE-140 had no effect on the exercise pressor reflex. Injection of 10 micrograms of this antagonist into the thoracic spinal cord reduced the contraction-evoked pressor, maximal dP/dt, and heart rate responses by 49 +/-7, 58 +/- 4, and 64 +/- 13%, respectively (P < 0.05). Fifty micrograms of HOE-140 failed to attenuate these responses further. In the three cats in which an additional contraction was performed 60-90 min after treatment with 10 micrograms of the antagonist, blood pressure and dP/dt responses had returned, in part, toward initial values. Neither intravenous (n = 3) nor intrathecal injection of 10 micrograms of HOE-140 into the lumbar spinal cord had any effect on the contraction-induced cardiovascular responses. Thoracic injection of 50-200 ng of bradykinin provoked a pressor response of 26 +/- 5 mmHg that was abolished by a similar injection of 10 micrograms of HOE-140. These data suggest that endogenous bradykinin contributes to the exercise pressor reflex by an excitatory action in the thoracic spinal cord.

Spinal cord regulation of sympathetic activity in intact and spinal rats

1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (4) ◽  
pp. H1485-H1493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Hong ◽  
D. F. Cechetto ◽  
L. C. Weaver
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Arterial Pressure ◽  
Sympathetic Activity ◽  
Excitatory Amino Acid ◽  
Intrathecal Injection ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
Homocysteic Acid ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Cord Injury

Excitatory amino acid (EAA) and cholinergic neurotransmission in the spinal cord of urethan-anesthetized rats was investigated to assess mechanisms regulating sympathetic activity after spinal cord injury. Blockade of EAA transmission by intrathecal injection of kynurenic acid decreased arterial blood pressure by 24 +/- 4 mmHg, heart rate by 15 +/- 10 beats/min, and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) by 85 +/- 4% in intact rats. In rats with cervical spinal transections, this blockade decreased RSNA by 51 +/- 5% and had no effect on arterial pressure and heart rate. Muscarinic blockade by intrathecal atropine decreased RSNA by 12 +/- 3 and 32 +/- 6% in intact and spinal rats, respectively, and caused no cardiovascular responses in either group. Combined blockade of EAA and muscarinic receptors in spinal rats decreased RSNA by 77 +/- 1%. Intrathecal injections of the EAA agonist D,L-homocysteic acid in spinal rats caused initial increases (335 +/- 28%) in RSNA lasting approximately 3 min and later sustained increases (157 +/- 19%) lasting 36 +/- 8 min. Only the early excitation increased arterial pressure by 17 +/- 3 mmHg, and then pressure returned to baseline values. The EAA agonist kainic acid increased RSNA by 402 +/- 90% in spinal rats, an effect lasting 70 +/- 5 min, and increased arterial pressure by only 8 +/- 2 mmHg for 12 +/- 5 min. These findings suggest that tonic activity of spinal neurons with EAA and cholinergic receptors maintains tonic RSNA after spinal cord transection. However, this activity does not play a major role in maintaining arterial pressure, even if it is increased substantially by EAA receptor stimulation.

scholarly journals Spinal nociceptin mediates electroacupuncture-related modulation of visceral sympathoexcitatory reflex responses in rats

2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (2) ◽  
pp. H859-H865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhou ◽  
Aman Mahajan ◽  
John C. Longhurst
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Intrathecal Injection ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Gastric Distension ◽  
Reflex Modulation ◽  
Reflex Responses ◽  
Pressor Responses ◽  
Pressor Reflex

The role of nociceptin and its spinal cord neural pathways in electroacupuncture (EA)-related inhibition of visceral excitatory reflexes is not clear. Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) is an endogenous ligand for a G protein-coupled receptor, called the N/OFQ peptide (NOP) receptor, which has been found to be distributed in the spinal cord. The present study investigated the importance of this system in visceral-cardiovascular reflex modulation during EA. Cardiovascular pressor reflex responses were induced by gastric distension in Sprague-Dawley rats anesthetized by ketamine and xylazine. An intrathecal injection of nociceptin (10 nM) at T1–2 attenuated the pressor responses by 35%, similar to the influence of EA at P 5–6 (42% decrease). An intrathecal injection of the NOP antagonist, [ N-Phe1]nociceptin1-13 NH2, partially reversed the EA response. Pretreatment with the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone did not alter the EA-like inhibitory effect of nociceptin on the pressor reflex, whereas a combination of nociceptin receptor antagonist with naloxone completely abolished the EA response. An intrathecal injection of nociceptin attenuated the pressor responses to the electrical stimulation of the rostral ventrolateral medulla by 46%, suggesting that nociceptin can regulate sympathetic outflow. Furthermore, a bilateral microinjection of NOP antagonist into either the dorsal horn or the intermediolateral column at T1 partially reversed the EA inhibitory effect. These results suggest that nociceptin in the spinal cord mediates part of the EA-related modulation of visceral reflex responses.

Medullary substrate and differential cardiovascular responses during stimulation of specific acupoints

2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (4) ◽  
pp. R852-R862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie C. Tjen-A-Looi ◽  
Peng Li ◽  
John C. Longhurst
Keyword(s):  
Median Nerve ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Radial Nerve ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
Reflex Responses ◽  
Superficial Radial Nerve ◽  
Cardiovascular Reflex ◽  
Cardiovascular Neurons ◽  
Change In Mean ◽  
Stimulation Of

Electroacupuncture (EA) at P5–P6 acupoints overlying the median nerve reduces premotor sympathetic cardiovascular neuronal activity in the rostral ventral lateral medulla (rVLM) and visceral reflex pressor responses. In previous studies, we have noted different durations of influence of EA comparing P5–P6 and S36–S37 acupoints, suggesting that point specificity may exist. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of stimulating P5–P6 (overlying the median nerve), LI4–L7 (overlying branches of the median nerve and the superficial radial nerve), LI6–LI7 (overlying the superficial radial nerve), LI10–LI11 (overlying the deep radial nerves), S36–S37 (overlying the deep peroneal nerves), or K1–B67 (overlying terminal branches of the tibial nerves) specific acupoints, overlying deep and superficial somatic nerves, on the excitatory cardiovascular reflex and rVLM responses evoked by stimulation of chemosensitive receptors in the cat's gallbladder with bradykinin (BK) or direct splanchnic nerve (SN) stimulation. We observed point-specific differences in magnitude and duration of EA inhibition between P5–P6 or LI10–LI11 and LI4–L7 or S36–S37 in responses to 30-min stimulation with low-frequency, low-current EA. EA at LI6–LI7 and K1–B67 acupoints as well as direct stimulation of the superficial radial nerve did not cause any cardiovascular or rVLM neuronal effects. Cardiovascular neurons in the rVLM, a subset of which were classified as premotor sympathetic cells, responded to brief (30 s) stimulation of the SN as well as acupoints P5–P6, LI10–LI11, LI4–L7, S36–S37, LI6–LI7, or K1–B67, or underlying somatic pathways in a fashion similar to the reflex responses. In fact, we observed a significant linear relationship ( r2 = 0.71) between the evoked rVLM response and reflex change in mean arterial blood pressure. In addition, EA stimulation at P5–P6 and LI4–L7 decreased rVLM neuronal activity by 41 and 12%, respectively, for >1 h, demonstrating that prolonged input into the medulla during stimulation of somatic nerves, depending on the degree of convergence, leads to more or less inhibition of activity of these cardiovascular neurons. Thus EA at acupoints overlying deep and superficial somatic nerves leads to point-specific effects on cardiovascular reflex responses. In a similar manner, sympathetic cardiovascular rVLM neurons that respond to both visceral (reflex) and somatic (EA) nerve stimulation manifest graded responses during stimulation of specific acupoints, suggesting that this medullary region plays a role in site-specific inhibition of cardiovascular reflex responses by acupuncture.

scholarly journals Chronic treatment with the opioid antagonist naltrexone favours the coupling of spinal cord μ-opioid receptors to Gαz protein subunits

2012 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 757-764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsa M. Valdizán ◽  
Alvaro Díaz ◽  
Fuencisla Pilar-Cuéllar ◽  
Aquilino Lantero ◽  
Ricardo Mostany ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Opioid Receptors ◽  
Chronic Treatment ◽  
Opioid Antagonist ◽  
Protein Subunits ◽  
Μ Opioid Receptors

scholarly journals Interferon-β suppresses inflammatory pain through activating µ-opioid receptor

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 174480692110452
Author(s):  
Chien Cheng Liu ◽  
I Cheng Lu ◽  
Li Kai Wang ◽  
Jen Yin Chen ◽  
Yu Yu Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Western Blot ◽  
Opioid Receptor ◽  
Opioid Receptors ◽  
Inflammatory Pain ◽  
Analgesic Effect ◽  
Intrathecal Injection ◽  
Type I ◽  
Withdrawal Threshold ◽  
Withdrawal Latency

Interferons (IFNs) are cytokines secreted by infected cells that can interfere with viral replication. Besides activating antiviral defenses, type I IFNs also exhibit diverse biological functions. IFN-β has been shown to have a protective effect against neurotoxic and inflammatory insults on neurons. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the possible role of IFN-β in reducing mechanical allodynia caused by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) injection in rats. We assessed the antinociceptive effect of intrathecal IFN-β in naïve rats and the rats with CFA–induced inflammatory pain. After the behavioral test, the spinal cords of the rats were harvested for western blot and immunohistochemical double staining. We found that intrathecal administration of IFN-β in naïve rats can significantly increase the paw withdrawal threshold and paw withdrawal latency. Further, the intrathecal injection of a neutralizing IFN-β antibody can reduce the paw withdrawal threshold and paw withdrawal latency, suggesting that IFN-β is produced in the spinal cord in normal conditions and serves as a tonic inhibitor of pain. In addition, intrathecal injection of IFN-β at dosages from 1000 U to 10000 U demonstrates a significant transient dose-dependent inhibition of CFA-induced inflammatory pain. This analgesic effect is reversed by intrathecal naloxone, suggesting that IFN-β produces an analgesic effect through central opioid receptor-mediated signaling. Increased expression of phospho-µ-opioid receptors after IFN-β injection was observed on western blot, and immunohistochemical staining showed that µ-opioids co-localized with IFN-α/βR in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The findings of this study demonstrate that the analgesic effect of IFN-β is through µ-opioid receptors activation in spial cord.

The exercise pressor reflex is attenuated by intrathecal oxytocin

1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (4) ◽  
pp. R909-R915 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Stebbins ◽  
A. Ortiz-Acevedo
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Pressor Response ◽  
Intrathecal Injection ◽  
Sensory Nerve ◽  
Lumbar Spinal Cord ◽  
Exercise Pressor Reflex ◽  
Static Contraction ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Pressor Reflex ◽  
Lumbar Spinal

We tested the hypothesis that oxytocin (Oxt) acts in the lumbar spinal cord to attenuate reflex pressor (mean arterial pressure, MAP) and heart rate (HR) responses to static hindlimb contraction (i.e., the exercise pressor reflex). Thus we compared MAP and HR responses to electrically stimulated hindlimb static contraction in the anesthetized cat before and after intrathecal injection of Oxt (30 pmol, n = 3; 300 pmol, n = 6; or 3 nmol, n = 6). The 300-pmol dose was most effective; it attenuated the pressor response to static contraction by 39 +/- 10% but had no effect on HR. In three other cats, contraction-induced increases in MAP and HR were monitored before and after intrathecal injection of 300 pmol of Oxt + 300 nmol of the selective Oxt receptor antagonist [d(CH2)5(1),O-Me-Tyr2,Thr4,Tyr9,Orn8]vasotocin. Pretreatment with the antagonist eliminated the effect of Oxt on MAP. In an additional 10 cats, increases in these same variables in response to static contraction were compared before and after intrathecal injection of the Oxt antagonist (30 nmol, n = 3 or 300 nmol, n = 7) into the lumbar spinal cord (L1-L7). Whereas 30 nmol of the Oxt antagonist had no effect, the 300-nmol dose augmented the contraction-induced pressor and HR responses by 28 +/- 7 and 32 +/- 17%, respectively. These data imply that endogenous Oxt modulates the exercise pressor reflex by its action on Oxt receptors in the lumbar spinal cord that can attenuate sensory nerve transmission from skeletal muscle.

Spinal estrogen attenuates the exercise pressor reflex but has little effect on the expression of genes regulating neurotransmitters in the dorsal root ganglia

2006 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 958-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra M. Schmitt ◽  
Kishorchandra Gohil ◽  
Marc P. Kaufman
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Dorsal Root ◽  
Pressor Response ◽  
Muscle Afferents ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Opioid Antagonist ◽  
Exercise Pressor Reflex ◽  
Static Contraction ◽  
Pressor Reflex

Previously, our laboratory showed that estrogen, topically applied to the spinal cord, attenuated the exercise pressor reflex in female cats (Schmitt PM and Kaufman MP. J Appl Physiol 95: 1418–1424, 2003; 98: 633–639, 2005). The attenuation was gender specific and was in part opioid dependent. Our finding that the μ- and δ-opioid antagonist naloxone was only able to partially restore estrogen’s attenuating effect on the pressor response to static contraction suggested that estrogen affected an additional pathway, involving the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). Estrogen has been described to stimulate transcription within 10 min of its application to the DRG, raising the possibility that rapid genomic effects on neurotransmitter production may have contributed to estrogen’s effect on the exercise pressor reflex. This prompted us to test the hypothesis that estrogen modulated the pressor response to static contraction by influencing gene expression of the neurotransmitters released by the thin-fiber muscle afferents that evoke the exercise pressor reflex. We confirmed in decerebrated female rats that topical application of estrogen (0.01 μg/ml) to the lumbosacral spinal cord attenuated the pressor response to static muscle contraction (from 10 ± 3 to 1 ± 1 mmHg; P < 0.05). DRG were then harvested postmortem, and changes in mRNA expression were analyzed. GeneChip analysis revealed that neither estrogen nor contraction alone changed the mRNA expression of substance P, the neurokinin-1 receptor, CGRP, NGF, the P2X3 receptor, GABAA and GABAB, the 5-HT3A and 5-HT3B receptor, N-methyl-d-aspartate and non- N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors, opioid receptors, and opioid-like receptor. Surprisingly, however, contraction stimulated the expression of neuropeptide Y in the DRG in the presence and absence of estrogen. We conclude that estrogen does not attenuate the exercise pressor reflex through a genomic effect in the DRG.

Spinai cord serotonin receptors in cardiovascular regulation and potentiation of the pressor response to intrathecal substance P after serotonin depletion

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 453-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haroutioun Hasséssian ◽  
Philippe Poulat ◽  
Edith Hamel ◽  
Tomás A. Reader ◽  
Réjean Couture
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Substance P ◽  
Pressor Response ◽  
Cardiovascular Effects ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
Cardiovascular Regulation ◽  
Cardiac Effect ◽  
Receptor Subtypes ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Arterial Blood

The aim of this study was to characterize, in conscious rats, the spinal cord 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors involved in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) regulation as well as to examine the influence of bulbospinal 5-HT fibers on cardiovascular responses to intrathecal (i.t.) substance P (SP). The i.t. injection of 5-HT or 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) (5-HT1A, 1B, 1D agonist) reduced MAP and increased HR in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, the agonists 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetraiin (8-OH-DPAT, 5-HT1A agonist) and α-CH3-5-HT (5-HT1C and 5-HT2) only caused a decrease in HR, while the agonist 2-CH3-5-HT (5-HT3) was devoid of cardiovascular effects. The vasodepressor response to 5-CT was antagonized by methiothepin but not affected by mesulergine, ketanserin, propranolol, or yohimbine. However, all five antagonists reduced the HR increase to 5-CT. Ketanserin, propranolol, mesulergine, yohimbine, and methysergide were without effect on resting MAP, while methiothepin reduced MAP. Methiothepin, ketanserin, and methysergide increased resting HR, yet the other antagonists had no effect on this parameter. Rats treated with p-chlorophenylalanine or 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine, but not with 6-hydroxydopamine, exhibited higher resting HR than that of control rats. Although the resting MAP was unaffected, the pressor response to i.t. SP was significantly enhanced by either 5-HT toxin. The results suggest that the receptor mediating the depressor response to 5-HT and 5-CT conforms with the broad pharmacological profile of a 5-HT1-like receptor and is unlikely to be of the 5-HT2 or 5-HT3 subtype. Since the HR response evoked by 5-CT was blocked by antagonists that exhibit affinities for various 5-HT receptor subtypes, it is suggested that a nonspecific blockade or, alternatively, that more than one receptor contributes to this cardiac effect. In addition, the results raise the possibility that a spinal 5-HT input, likely mediated by 5-HT2 receptors, tonically inhibits HR. Hence, an antagonistic interaction between 5-HT and SP is proposed to play a role in the control of arterial blood pressure in the spinal cord.Key words: 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT receptors, substance P, spinal cord, cardiovascular regulation.

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