title: Glucocorticoids modulate baroreflex control of heart rate in conscious normotensive rats.
abstract: The effect of glucocorticoids on arterial baroreceptor reflex control of heart rate (HR) was determined in conscious rats. Corticosterone (Cort) treatment for 4-6 days doubled plasma Cort in Cort-treated relative to control rats. Cort had no significant effect on mean arterial pressure (MAP) or HR. Ramped changes in MAP were produced using infusions of phenylephrine and nitroprusside. Baroreflex control of HR was analyzed using a four-parameter logistic function. The midpoint of the baseline baroreflex function curve was significantly increased in Cort-treated (n = 14) relative to control (n = 14) rats (112 +/- 2 vs. 98 +/- 2 mmHg, n = 14), and the slope was significantly decreased (0.065 +/- 0.002 vs. 0.091 +/- 0.007). Three hours after the glucocorticoid type II receptor antagonist mifepristone (Mif) was administered to Cort-treated rats (n = 8), the midpoint of the baroreflex function was significantly reduced from 113 +/- 4 to 99 +/- 2 mmHg, and the slope was significantly increased from 0.061 +/- 0.004 to 0.083 +/- 0.005. Mif decreased HR in Cort-treated rats from 355 +/- 17 to 330 +/- 14 beats/min (P = 0.04) but did not alter MAP (111 +/- 2 to 107 +/- 3 mmHg, P = 0.14). Mif had no significant effects on baroreflex function in control rats. Therefore, a moderate elevation in Cort for several days causes pressure-independent modulation of baroreflex control of HR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, The University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA. scheuerd@umkc.edu
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Scheuer
authors.forename: Andrea G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Bechtold
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003243:Consciousness; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D015735:Mifepristone; D003345:Corticosterone