title: In vivo gene transfer to dissect neuronal mechanisms regulating cardiorespiratory function.
abstract: This lecture reviews recent information from our laboratory regarding brainstem mechanisms regulating the arterial baroreceptor reflex. Our long-term goal is to understand some of the mechanisms involved in the etiology of essential hypertension. Our hypothesis is that this problem may arise, in part, because of changes within brainstem circuits controlling arterial pressure, and in particular to occlusion of baroreceptive information at the level of the primary afferent relay within the brainstem. Although it is established that baroreceptors provide a mechanism for short-term regulation of arterial pressure, there is convincing evidence that they also play a role in its long-term control (see Thrasher 2002, for an example). It follows that dysfunction of this reflex circuit could contribute to high blood pressure levels. Here, we discuss the central actions of angiotensin II on the baroreceptor reflex circuitry within the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) for arterial pressure control. Our findings have led us to hypothesize a novel form of intercellular communication within the NTS, one of vascular-neuronal signaling.
authors.affiliation: Cardio-Respiratory Control Group, Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, England. julian.f.r.paton@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: Julian F R
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Paton
authors.forename: Hidefumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Waki
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasparov
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D015398:Signal Transduction; D017552:Solitary Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000804:Angiotensin II; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III