Nitric oxide modulates arterial baroreflex control of heart rate in conscious lambs in an age-dependent manner.
Experiments were carried out in conscious chronically instrumented lambs aged 1 (n = 6) and 6 wk (n = 5) to evaluate the arterial baroreflex control of heart rate (HR) during postnatal maturation and to investigate any modulatory role of endogenously produced nitric oxide (NO). Before and after intravenous administration of 20 mg/kg of the L-arginine analog N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), the arterial baroreflex was assessed by measuring HR responses to increases and decreases in systolic arterial pressure achieved by intravenous administration of phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside. The HR range over which the baroreflex operates and minimum HR as well as maximum gain were greater at 1 than at 6 wk of age. These age differences were abolished in the presence of L-NAME, which decreased the HR range and gain of the arterial baroreflex control of HR at 1 but not at 6 wk of age. These data provide new information that age-dependent effects of the arterial baroreflex appear to result from effects of endogenously produced NO.
Sener
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Departments of Physiology and Biophysics/Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
Smith
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FG
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003243:Consciousness; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012756:Sheep; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D010656:Phenylephrine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester