title: Altered angiotensin II sensitivity of neurons in the organum vasculosum lamina terminalis region of the spontaneously hypertensive rat.
abstract: Using in vitro hypothalamic brain slices, differences in angiotensin II (AII) sensitivity of neurons in the organum vasculosum lamina terminalis (OVLT) region were compared between spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). AII, the AII competitive antagonist saralasin, and L-glutamate were micropressure-applied onto OVLT neurons. AII excitation of SHR neurons was blocked or antagonized by simultaneous application of saralasin, evoked at significantly lower thresholds and displayed exaggerated periods of postactivity compared to OVLT neurons in preparations taken from WKY controls. Neuronal responses to L-glutamate were similar between the two rat strains. Differences in neuronal sensitivity to AII may be causally linked to hypertension in SHR.
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D012504:Saralasin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates; D000804:Angiotensin II; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D012504:Saralasin