Brain glutathione and blood pressure control.
The role of glutathione in the central nervous system in regulating blood pressure (BP) and sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) was investigated in rats. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of glutathione disulfide (GSSG: 1.7-33 nmol) resulted in a dose-dependent increase in BP [delta mean BP: 17 +/- 1 mm Hg (n = 7) for 33-nmol dose] together with a marked increase in SNA [163 +/- 13 to 672 +/- 70 spikes/10 s (n = 7), p less than 0.001]. Intracerebroventricular administration of its reduced form (GSH, 33 nmol) produced a vasodepressor response (delta mean BP: -9 +/- 2 mm Hg) accompanied by a corresponding decrease in SNA [192 +/- 15 to 54 +/- 22 spikes/10 s (n = 6), p less than 0.01]. These responses were not due to a leakage into the systemic circulation, since intravenous injection of GSSG or GSH (33 nmol) did not show any cardiovascular effects. Electrical stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus induced hypertension with a significant decrease of GSSG in the brain stem. The results indicate that GSSG has a stimulatory control over the sympathetic nervous system while GSH has an inhibitory effect on SNA. Glutathione disulfide and GSH may act within the central nervous system to modulate the tone of the sympathetic nervous system.
Murakami
E
E
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Ehime University School of Medicine, Onsen-gun, Japan.
Iwata
T
T
Hiwada
K
K
Kokubu
T
T
D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*
D005978:Glutathione