Paraventricular nucleus is involved in the central pathway of cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex in rats.
Our previous studies have shown that angiotensin II and reactive oxygen species in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) modulate the cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex (CSAR). The present study was designed to demonstrate more conclusively that the PVN is an important component of the central neurocircuitry of the CSAR. In anaesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats with sinoaortic denervation and cervical vagotomy, renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were continuously recorded. The CSAR was evaluated by the response of the RSNA to epicardial application of bradykinin or capsaicin. Bilateral microinjection of the anaesthetic, lignocaine, into the PVN abolished the CSAR without significant effects on the baseline RSNA and MAP, while l-glutamate, which excites the neurons in the PVN, enhanced the CSAR and increased the baseline RSNA and MAP. Bilateral electrolytic lesions of the PVN irreversibly abolished the CSAR without significant effects on the baseline RSNA and MAP. Bilateral selective lesions of the neurons in the PVN with kainic acid induced rapid and great increases in both RSNA and MAP which returned to nearly normal levels in 60 min. At the 90th minute after kainic acid, epicardial application of bradykinin or capsaicin failed to induce the CSAR. These results indicate that inhibition or lesion of the PVN abolishes the CSAR, but excitation of the neurons in the PVN enhances the CSAR, suggesting that the PVN is an important component of the central neurocircuitry of the CSAR.
Zhong
Ming-Kui
MK
Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
Duan
Yang-Can
YC
Chen
Ai-Dong
AD
Xu
Bo
B
Gao
Xing-Ya
XY
De
Wei
W
Zhu
Guo-Qing
GQ
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology*
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D008012:Lidocaine; D002211:Capsaicin; D001920:Bradykinin; D007608:Kainic Acid