title: Nitric oxide and GABA mediate bi-directional cardiovascular effects of orexin in the nucleus tractus solitarii of rats.
abstract: The present study investigated the cardiovascular effects of orexin (OX)-A and OX-B in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and delineated the engagement of nitric oxide (NO) and GABA in OX-induced cardiovascular responses. In adult male Sprague-Dawley rats maintained under propofol anesthesia, microinjection bilaterally into the NTS of OX-A or OX-B evoked bi-directional cardiovascular effects in a dose-dependent manner. At a lower dose (5 pmol), OX-A or OX-B decreased systemic arterial pressure (SAP), heart rate (HR), and power density of the vasomotor components of SAP signals, our experimental index for sympathetic neurogenic vasomotor tone. At higher doses (>20 pmol), these two compounds elicited cardiovascular excitatory responses. These bi-directional cardiovascular effects of OX were abolished by co-injection of an OX(1) receptor antagonist, 1-(2-methylbenzoxazol-6-yl)-3-[1,5]naphthyridin-4-yl-urea hydrochloride (SB-334867, 0.75 nmol) or the OX(2) receptor antiserum (1:20). In addition, the vasodepressor effects of low dose (5 pmol) OX-A or OX-B in the NTS were attenuated by a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, 5 nmol), a neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) inhibitor, 7-nitroindazole (2.5 pmol) or the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) inhibitor, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazole[4,3-alpha]quinoxalin-1-one (250 pmol). The vasopressor effects of high dose (200 pmol) OX were reversed by co-administration with GABA(A) or GABA(B) receptor antagonist, bicuculline methiodine (10 pmol) or 2-hydroxy saclofen (100 pmol), or l-NAME (5 nmol). Our results indicate that OX-A or OX-B elicited bi-directional cardiovascular effects via OX receptor-dependent mechanisms. The vasodepressor effects of OX were induced by the nNOS-derived NO and activation of sGC-associated signaling pathway, whereas the vasopressor effects were mediated by interaction with GABAergic or nitrergic neurotransmission in the NTS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tajen University, 20 Weishin Road, Yanpu Township, Pingtung County 907, Taiwan, Republic of China. cdshih@mail.tajen.edu.tw
authors.forename: C-D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Y-C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chuang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects*; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D064446:Orexin Receptors; D000068797:Orexins; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D017552:Solitary Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D064446:Orexin Receptors; D000068797:Orexins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase