title: Does leptin stimulate nitric oxide to oppose the effects of sympathetic activation?
abstract: Leptin decreases appetite and increases sympathetic nerve activity and arterial pressure. Recent reports suggest that leptin may also have peripheral vasodilator actions that would tend to reduce arterial pressure. We tested the hypothesis that the direct vascular actions of leptin oppose sympathetically mediated vasoconstriction. We evaluated the effects of intravenous leptin (1 mg/kg over 3 hours) on arterial pressure and mesenteric, hindlimb, and renal blood flows in conscious rats. We then tested whether blockade of nitric oxide or the sympathetic nervous system would unmask a pressor or depressor effect of leptin, consistent with direct vascular actions. Acute intravenous administration of leptin alone did not change arterial pressure or regional blood flows. This was despite a significant increase in lumbar sympathetic nerve activity. Administration of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester significantly increased arterial pressure and caused vasoconstriction. However, leptin did not have any significant effect on hemodynamics in the presence of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester despite continued sympathoactivation. alpha-Adrenoceptor blockade with prazosin alone or combined with yohimbine significantly decreased arterial pressure and caused vasodilation. Again, leptin did not have any effect on arterial pressure or regional blood flow in the presence of sympathetic blockade. These data demonstrate that leptin does not have vasodilator actions in vivo at concentrations that are sufficient to increase sympathetic nerve activity. The absence of a pressor effect of leptin-induced sympathetic activation may merely reflect the brief duration of leptin administration. These data support the concept that the chronic hemodynamic actions of leptin are likely to be related to sympathetic activation.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Genetics Specialized Center of Research, Cardiovascular Center, Diabetes Endocrine Research Center, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: W I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Sivitz
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Haynes
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation; D020738:Leptin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D020738:Leptin; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D015016:Yohimbine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D011224:Prazosin