title: Intrahippocampal microinjection of an exquisitely low dose of ouabain mimics NaCl loading and stimulates a bufadienolide Na/K-ATPase inhibitor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brain endogenous ouabain (EOU) raises blood pressure (BP) via an angiotensin II (ATII)-sensitive pathway in NaCl-loaded Dahl salt-sensitive rats (DSS). Brain EOU activates central and adrenocortical renin-angiotensin systems, and stimulates marinobufagenin, a vasoconstrictor and natriuretic inhibitor of sodium pump.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied effects of acute NaCl loading (17 mmol/kg NaCl, intraperitoneally) on levels of EOU and marinobufagenin in several brain areas in DSS. We then studied effects of intrahippocampal administration of very-low-dose ouabain (60 pg) on EOU, marinobufagenin, BP, sodium excretion, and sodium-pump activity in the aorta and renal medulla in the absence and presence of anti-marinobufagenin and anti-ouabain antibodies, and losartan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NaCl loading of DSS induced transient increases of EOU in the hippocampus and amygdala (15 min; 300%), supraoptical nucleus of hypothalamus (SON) (30 min, 230%) and pituitary (30 min; 85%), and ATII elevation in the SON (30 min). Intrahippocampal administration of ouabain (60 pg) stimulated ATII in the SON, produced natriuresis, 40 mmHg rise in BP, inhibition of sodium-pump in the renal medulla (19.6%) and aorta (25%), and a two-fold increase in renal marinobufagenin excretion. Pretreatment of rats with anti-marinobufagenin antibody prevented ouabain-induced pressor and natriuretic responses and sodium-pump inhibition. Pressor responses to ouabain were also prevented by losartan (intravenously) and by administration of anti-ouabain antibody into the SON.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NaCl loading of DSS induces a cascade of events, triggered by brain EOU and ATII. Intrahippocampal administration of a low-dose ouabain mimics effects of NaCl loading and stimulates marinobufagenin, which produces natriuresis, and inhibits the vascular sodium-pump, inducing an increase in BP.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Olga V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Fedorova
authors.forename: Igor A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Zhuravin
authors.forename: Natalia I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Agalakova
authors.forename: Liubov A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Yamova
authors.forename: Mark I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Talan
authors.forename: Edward G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Lakatta
authors.forename: Alexei Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Bagrov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002018:Bufanolides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D010042:Ouabain / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D002018:Bufanolides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C087925:bufadienolide; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D010042:Ouabain; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase