title: Non-NMDA receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla mediate somatosympathetic pressor responses.
abstract: The role of excitatory amino acid receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in mediating a somatosympathetic pressor response (SPR) was studied. Rats were anesthetized with urethane, bilaterally vagotomized, paralyzed and respirated. Increases in mean arterial pressure were evoked by 10-s trains of electrical stimulation of sciatic nerve afferents before and after bilateral microinjections into the RVLM of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist D-2-amino-7-phosphono-heptanoic acid (D-AP7) or the non-NMDA receptor antagonist 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX). DNQX reversed or markedly attenuated the SPR. In contrast, the SPR was not significantly altered by blockade of NMDA receptors in the RVLM with D-AP7. However, prior administration of D-AP7 prevented reversal of the SPR by DNQX, while administration of D-AP7 after DNQX partially restored the SPR. These results indicate that pressor responses evoked by electrical stimulation of sciatic nerve afferents require synaptic activation of non-NMDA receptors in the RVLM. A somatic depressor response, revealed after blockade of non-NMDA receptors within the RVLM, may be mediated by activation of NMDA receptors in this region of the brainstem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kiely
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007051:Ibotenic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017459:Receptors, Amino Acid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014628:Vagotomy; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D011810:Quinoxalines; D017459:Receptors, Amino Acid; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D007051:Ibotenic Acid; C056723:FG 9041; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid; C031231:2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid; D007608:Kainic Acid