Activation of noradrenergic mechanism attenuates glutamate-induced vasopressor responses in the pons and medulla of cats in vivo.
1. Using anesthetized cats, the authors examined the noradrenergic modulation of the glutamate induced pressor and depressor responses in various brainstem areas, including pontine gigantocellular tegmental field (FTG), dorsomedial medulla (DM), rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), and caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM). 2. Unilateral microinjection of L-glutamate (Glu, 3 nmol in 30 nL saline) into FTG, DM and RVLM produced an increase in systemic arterial pressure (SAP) and a decrease in heart rate (HR), while into CVLM produced decreases of SAP and HR. 3. Application of norepinephrine (NE) into the pressor areas (0.05 to 5 nmol) did not alter the resting SAP and HR, but significantly attenuated the Glu-induced pressor response with an order of potency: FTG > DM > RVLM. In the depressor CVLM, NE alone produced a dose-dependent decrease of resting SAP and HR, but did not affect the Glu-induced depressor responses. 4. The involvement of different adrenoceptor subtypes was further investigated by application of selective adrenoceptor agonists including phenylephrine (alpha1), clonidine (alpha2), and isoproterenol (beta). Responses to these agonists are similar to those elicited by NE, except that only alpha-adrenoceptor agonists could antagonize the Glu-induced pressor responses of the RVLM. 5. Our observations indicate that NE not only inhibits the pressor mechanisms in various brainstem areas but also elicits a direct depressor response in CVLM. These findings also suggest that NE acts more likely a neurotransmitter, rather than a modulator, in the CVLM.
Chen
S Y
SY
Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Mao
S P
SP
Su
C K
CK
Wang
S D
SD
Chai
C Y
CY
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D002415:Cats; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011311:Pressoreceptors / Q000502:physiology; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000502:physiology
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D009638:Norepinephrine