title: Nitric oxide in the nucleus raphe magnus modulates cutaneous blood flow in rats during hypothermia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nucleus Raphe Magnus (NRM) that is involved in the regulation of body temperature contains nitric oxide (NO) synthase. Considering the effect of NO on skin blood flow control, in this study, we assessed its thermoregulatory role within the raphe magnus.
  
  
  METHODS
  To this end, tail blood flow of male Wistar rats was measured by laser doppler following the induction of hypothermia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intra-NRM injection of SNP (exogenous NO donor, 0.1- 0.2 μl, 0.2 nM) increased the blood flow. Similarly, unilateral microinjection of glutamate (0.1- 0.2 μl, 2.3 nM) into the nucleus increased the blood flow. This effect of L-glutamate was reduced by prior intra NRM administration of NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-methyl-L-arginine or N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 0.1 µl, 100 nM).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that NO modulates the thermoregulatory response of NRM to hypothermia and may interact with excitatory amino acids in central skin blood flow regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, Allied Medical College, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Medical College of Saveh, Saveh University of Medical Sciences, Saveh, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoumeh Kourosh
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Arami
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Javad Mirnajafi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zade
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Komaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, Allied Medical College, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehrpooya
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jahanshahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, Allied Medical College, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Behnam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jamei
keywords: L-NAME; Nitric oxide; Raphe magnus; Sodium nitroprusside