scholarly journals Role of the Melanocortin System in the Central Regulation of Cardiovascular Functions

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Copperi ◽  
Jung Dae Kim ◽  
Sabrina Diano

Increasing evidence indicates that the melanocortin system is not only a central player in energy homeostasis, food intake and glucose level regulation, but also in the modulation of cardiovascular functions, such as blood pressure and heart rate. The melanocortins, and in particular α- and γ-MSH, have been shown to exert their cardiovascular activity both at the central nervous system level and in the periphery (e.g., in the adrenal gland), binding their receptors MC3R and MC4R and influencing the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. In addition, some studies have shown that the activation of MC3R and MC4R by their endogenous ligands is able to improve the outcome of cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial and cerebral ischemia. In this brief review, we will discuss the current knowledge of how the melanocortin system influences essential cardiovascular functions, such as blood pressure and heart rate, and its protective role in ischemic events, with a particular focus on the central regulation of such mechanisms.

2010 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 442-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose M. Martinez ◽  
Amir Garakani ◽  
Horacio Kaufmann ◽  
Cindy J. Aaronson ◽  
Jack M. Gorman

Hypertension ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guannan Zhou ◽  
Tao Yang ◽  
Sivarajan Kumarasamy ◽  
Bina Joe ◽  
Lauren G Koch

Introduction: Low exercise capacity is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease and overall mortality. Previously we have shown that rats artificially selected for low intrinsic exercise capacity (LCR) have reduced longevity and develop features consistent with metabolic syndrome (MetS) compared to high intrinsic exercise capacity rats (HCR). Current knowledge suggests that gut microbiota is an important contributor for host fitness. Thus, we hypothesized that transferring gut microbiota from LCR rats into inbred high capacity runner (HCR /Tol ) rats would increase risk factors for MetS, including high blood pressure (BP), gain in body weight (BW), and altered resting energy metabolism. Methods: Gut microbiota was depleted in male HCR/ Tol rats (4 mo.) by an antibiotic cocktail given orally (50mg/kg of BW/day) for 5 days, followed by weekly fecal microbiota transfer (FMT) from male LCR or HCR rats (13 mo.) to generate HCR/ Tol -LCR FMT (n = 5) or HCR/ Tol -HCR FMT (n = 6) groups. BW was measured every 4 weeks. At week 11, whole body metabolism was measured by indirect calorimetry (Oxymax, Columbus Instruments). Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER), Energy Expenditure (EE), glucose and fat oxidation were calculated from oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide release (VO 2 and VCO 2 ). At week 12, BP was measured by tail-cuff method (Kent Scientific) and treadmill exercise test was done at week 13. Results: Compared to HCR/ Tol -HCR FMT , HCR/ Tol -LCR FMT showed a significant gain in BW (7.2% vs 1.9%, P<0.05), elevated systolic BP (147 vs 120 mmHg, P<0.0001), diastolic BP (112 vs 91 mmHg, P<0.01), and mean BP (123 vs 100 mmHg, P<0.001). BP changes in HCR/ Tol -LCR FMT associated with 1) increased VO 2 (355 vs 320 ml/hr, P<0.05), 2) elevated VCO 2 (350 vs 298 ml/hr, P<0.01), 3) increased EE (1.8 vs 1.6 kcal/hr, P<0.01), 4) higher RER (0.96 vs 0.91, P<0.001), 5) higher glucose oxidation (1.36 vs 1.12 g/kg/hr, P<0.001) and 6) reduced fatty acid oxidation (0.09 vs 0.15 g/kg/hr, P<0.01) and a 23% lower exercise capacity. Conclusions: Gut microbiota from LCR rats strongly associated with poor health outcomes, notably elevated BP and impaired energy metabolism. These findings suggest that altered energy homeostasis by microbiota is mechanistically linked to host BP regulation within MetS.


2011 ◽  
pp. 141-148
Author(s):  
James R. Munis

Physiologist Claude Bernard lived in a time when very little was known about the mechanisms underlying physiologic findings, and he had ample access to clues garnered from observing machines. Let's consider homeostasis (a concept championed by Bernard), an example for which an engineered machine shed light on a fundamental principle of physiology. Homeostasis is simply the tendency of the body to maintain important physiologic variables (eg, heart rate, blood pressure, PACO2) at constant, preset values. An example is a simplified mechanical governor that could be used to regulate the rotational speed of a steam engine shaft. ‘Autoregulate’ might be a more apt word because the governor performs without external help or guidance, provided it is designed and built properly. It doesn't take much imagination to see an analogy between the mechanical governor and the autonomic nervous system. Both maintain specific variables at a constant set point through a process of feedback loops.


1960 ◽  
Vol 198 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. E. D'Amato ◽  
Suzanne Kronheim ◽  
B. G. Covino

Heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output and cardiac minute work were measured in pentobarbitalized dogs prior to induction of hypothermia, at rectal temperatures of 25°C or 20°C and following rapid rewarming in warm water or slow rewarming by wrapping in heated sheeting. During rapid rewarming from either 25°C or 20°C no consistent failure in recovery of normal cardiovascular function was observed, although 1 out of 10 dogs did suffer cardiovascular collapse during rapid rewarming. Slow rewarming from 25° and 20°C resulted in consistent failure of some or all of these functions to recover to prehypothermic levels. Moreover, 5 out of 15 slowly rewarmed dogs suffered cardiovascular collapse during the rewarming process. In five dogs slowly rewarmed from 20°C saline was infused into the superior vena cava. This procedure resulted in moderate increases in blood pressure but dramatic increases in cardiac output and minute work (200% and 270%, respectively), thereby negating myocardial failure as the primary cause of the occasionally observed cardiovascular failure.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rute C.A. de Souza ◽  
Regiane Peres ◽  
Marlos G. Sousa ◽  
Aparecido A. Camacho

ABSTRACT: The cardiovascular parameters of canine bitches were assessed during the estrous cycle. A total of eleven mongrel female dogs were enrolled in a longitudinal prospective investigation. Six animals were bred during the study and were assigned into group I, in which evaluations were performed during proestrus, estrus, gestational diestrus and anestrus. The five remaining bitches were not bred and underwent evaluations during proestrus, estrus, nongestational diestrus and anestrus. The holter data showed a gradual increase in the minimum and mean heart rate along pregnancy, as well as a reduction during anestrus, which differed significantly among the distinct periods. The values for maximal heart rate documented during pregnancy were significantly lower than those recorded during anestrus, and a variation in the heart rate circadian rhythm was also found, as demonstrated by decreases at night and rises during the day. Cardiac rhythm had a similar performance in both pregnancy and anestrus. Likewise, the blood pressure, electrocardiography, and echocardiography data did not vary during the estrous cycle. The results support the role played by the autonomic nervous system during these two distinct periods in order to attain a heart rate that provides the blood needed by the female’s body during the various stages of the reproductive cycle. Further studies are needed to better clarify the cardiovascular compensatory neuroendocrine events that accompany gestation in this species.


1989 ◽  
Vol 256 (1) ◽  
pp. R112-R119 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. N. Darlington ◽  
M. Miyamoto ◽  
L. C. Keil ◽  
M. F. Dallman

The excitatory neurotransmitter, L-glutamate (0.5 M, pH 7.4), or the organic acid, acetate (0.5 M, pH 7.4), was microinjected (50 nl over 2 min) directly into the paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized rats while arterial blood pressure and heart rate and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), vasopressin, and oxytocin were measured. Activation of PVN neurons with L-glutamate led to increases in plasma ACTH, vasopressin, and oxytocin and a profound bradycardia (approximately 80 beats/min) with little change in arterial blood pressure. Microinjection of acetate had no effect on the above variables. The decrease in heart rate was shown to be dependent on the concentration of glutamate injected and the volume of injectate. The bradycardia was mediated through the autonomic nervous system because ganglionic blockade (pentolinium tartrate) eliminated the response; atropine and propranolol severely attenuated the bradycardia. The bradycardia was greatest when L-glutamate was microinjected into the caudal PVN. Injections into the rostral PVN or into nuclei surrounding the PVN led to small or nonsignificant decreases in heart rate. Focal electric stimulation (2-50 microA) of the PVN also led to decreases in heart rate and arterial blood pressure. These data suggest that activation of PVN neurons leads to the release of ACTH, vasopressin, and oxytocin from the pituitary and a bradycardia that is mediated by the autonomic nervous system.


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