title: Cardiovascular effects of nitric oxide and adenosine in the nucleus tractus solitarii of rats.
abstract: It has been shown that nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized in the central nervous system as well as in vascular endothelial cells. We recently reported that NO was involved in central cardiovascular regulation, modulated the baroreflex, and was involved in a reciprocal release with excitatory amino acids in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) of rats. We also reported previously that adenosine increased the release of glutamate in the NTS. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possible interaction of NO and adenosine in the NTS. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with urethane, and blood pressure was monitored intra-arterially. Unilateral microinjection of L-arginine (3.3 nmol/60 nL) into the NTS produced decreases in blood pressure and heart rate. Microinjection of adenosine (2.3 nmol/60 nL) also produced depressive and bradycardic effects. These cardiovascular effects were attenuated by prior administration of the specific adenosine receptor antagonist DPSPX (0.92 nmol). Similarly, prior administration of NO synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine or NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester significantly attenuated the depressive and bradycardic effects of adenosine. These results demonstrate a reciprocal attenuation of adenosine receptor antagonist and NO synthase inhibitor on L-arginine and adenosine responses, respectively, in the NTS and implicate an interaction between NO and adenosine in central cardiovascular regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education and Research, Veterans General Hospital-Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tseng
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D017552:Solitary Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects*; D014970:Xanthines; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D014970:Xanthines; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D012965:Sodium Chloride; C053896:1,3-dipropyl-8-(4-sulfophenyl)xanthine; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000241:Adenosine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester