title: Autonomic and neuroendocrine actions of adrenomedullin in the brain: mechanisms for homeostasis.
abstract: In addition to its role as a potent vasodilator, adrenomedullin (ADM) affects an animal's physiological status through its effects in the brain. We have shown that circulating ADM activates neurons, including nitric oxide (NO)-producing neurons, in autonomic centers of the brain such as the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Systemic ADM gains access to the brain through the area postrema (AP), a brainstem circumventricular organ, and the PVN is a major target of these ADM-sensitive AP neurons. Neurons expressing the preproADM (ppADM) gene are distributed throughout the brain, with high levels in autonomic centers. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, immune stress), restraint (psychological stress), and 24 h dehydration all down-regulate ppADM gene expression in different subsets of autonomic centers. Receptor-activity-modifying protein (RAMP) 2 and RAMP3, ADM receptor subunits, are expressed in autonomic centers including the PVN and supraoptic nucleus. Intracerebroventricular injections of ADM increase arterial pressure, heart rate, tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA levels in the locus coeruleus, plasma levels of ACTH, and NO production in the hypothalamus. ADM excites putative GABAergic and cholinergic neurons in dissociated cells from a basal forebrain integrative center, the diagonal band of Broca. These results demonstrate that the signalling components necessary for ADM to influence physiological systems are present in the brain and that ADM is an important transmitter of brain autonomic pathways which are involved in regulating homeostatic balance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, T6G 2H7, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Tevye
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stachniak
authors.forename: Jack H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jhamandas
authors.forename: Teresa L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Krukoff
mesh_terms: D053607:Adrenomedullin; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000502:physiology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry; D020667:Diagonal Band of Broca / Q000737:chemistry; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000737:chemistry; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D058265:Receptors, Adrenomedullin; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000032:analysis; D013495:Supraoptic Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010455:Peptides; D058265:Receptors, Adrenomedullin; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; D053607:Adrenomedullin; D009569:Nitric Oxide