Effects of Veratrum nigrum alkaloids on central catecholaminergic neurons of renal hypertensive rats.
OBJECTIVE
To study the central hypotensive mechanism of Veratrum nigrum L var ussurience Nakai alkaloids (VnA) in renal hypertensive rats(RHR).


METHODS
The quantitative method of immunocytochemistry (ICC) was used to observe and detect the effect of VnA (30 micrograms.kg-1, i.v.) on activity of central catecholaminergic (CA) neurons of C1, C2, A1, and A5 areas in RHR.


RESULTS
VnA increased the immunoreactivity (IR) of tyrosine 3-monooxygenase (TM)-immunopositive (IP) neurons of C1, C2, and A5 areas in RHR experimental group compared with RHR control group [positive units: (1.9 +/- 0.4), (1.18 +/- 0.23), (1.2 +/- 0.4) vs (0.15 +/- 0.22), (0.31 +/- 0.16), (0.69 +/- 0.20), respectively]; IR of TM-IP neurons of C1 and C2 areas in RHR control group was decreased compared with sham-operated group [positive units: (0.15 +/- 0.22), (0.31 +/- 0.16) vs (1.45 +/- 0.29), (1.36 +/- 0.25), respectively].


CONCLUSIONS
VnA increased the activity of central CA neurons in RHR to exert its hypotensive effect.
Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116027, China. dmulibra@pub.dl.lnpta.net.cn
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Li
G Y
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Gao
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Li
W J
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Zhao
Y T
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Guo
Z J
ZJ
Liang
D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002595:Cevanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006978:Hypertension, Renovascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D011149:Pons / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D014704:Veratrum Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002395:Catecholamines; D002595:Cevanes; D014704:Veratrum Alkaloids; C052979:verazine; C010206:jervine; C052980:neogermbudine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase