Role of endogenous brain "ouabain" in the sympathoexcitatory and pressor effects of sodium.
Endogenous cardiac glycoside inhibitors of the Na, K-ATPase (called "ouabain" here) with structures similar to plant ouabain have been isolated in several tissues, including the adrenal cortex and the brain. Recent studies have demonstrated that "ouabain" in the anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V) region of the hypothalamus mediates the sympathoexcitatory and pressor responses to a high sodium diet in Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl-S) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats. Although the mechanisms regulating the biosynthesis, release and deactivation of CNS "ouabain" remain unknown, the discovery of the importance of brain "ouabain" in cardiovascular regulation creates a novel path for the development of antihypertensive pharmacopeia.
Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ontario.
J W
JW
Van Huysse
F H
FH
Leenen
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D010042:Ouabain / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; C083016:sodium-potassium ATPase inhibitory factor; D010042:Ouabain; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase