pituitrin and linsidomine

The presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), the enzyme that catalyses the formation of nitric oxide (NO), in the circumventricular organs and magnocellular neurones suggests an important role of NO in the modulation of vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) release. Intracerebroventricular (I.C.V.) injection of angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulates the release of AVP, OT and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), with the resultant antidiuretic and natriuretic effects. This study investigated the interaction between nitrergic and angiotensinergic pathways on the release of AVP, OT and ANP and on urinary volume and sodium excretion in water-loaded rats. Unanaesthetized, freely moving, male Wistar rats received two water loads followed by an injection into the lateral ventricle of an inhibitor of NOS (L-NAME), a NO donor [3-morpholinylsydnoneimine chloride (SIN-1) or S-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP)] or vehicle (isotonic saline) and, 20 min after, they received a second I.C.V. injection of Ang II or vehicle. Injections of L-NAME or Ang II produced an increase in plasma levels of AVP, OT and ANP, a reduction in urinary volume and an increase in sodium excretion. Pretreatment with L-NAME enhanced the Ang II-induced increase in AVP, OT and ANP release, as well as the antidiuresis and natriuresis. Injection of SIN-1 or SNAP did not modify hormonal plasma levels and urinary parameters. In contrast SNAP blocked the AVP, OT and ANP release, as well as antidiuretic and natriuretic responses induced by ANG-II. Thus, the central nitrergic system can act to inhibit AVP, OT and ANP secretion and the antidiuretic and natriuretic effects in response to Ang II.

Topics: Angiotensin II; Animals; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Consciousness; Enzyme Inhibitors; Injections, Intraventricular; Male; Molsidomine; Natriuresis; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Donors; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Osmolar Concentration; Oxytocin; Peptide Hormones; Rats; Rats, Wistar; S-Nitroso-N-Acetylpenicillamine; Sodium; Urine; Vasoconstrictor Agents; Vasopressins

We investigated the effect of the intracerebroventricular injection of the nitric oxide (NO) donor 3-morpholino-sydnonimine (SIN-1) on the release of adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and the neuronal response of hypothalamic neurons responsible for this release. Rats that were administered SIN-1 showed significant elevations in plasma ACTH levels, a response that was virtually abolished by antibodies against corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and significantly blunted by vasopressin (VP) antiserum. SIN-1 also upregulated heteronuclear (hn) transcripts for CRF and VP and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels for the immediate early gene NGFI-B and for CRF receptor type 1 (CRF-R(1)) in the parvocellular portion of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. Blockade of prostaglandin synthesis with ibuprofen did not alter the ACTH or the PVN response to SIN-1. The central nucleus of the amygdala and the supraoptic nucleus, regions that are involved in autonomic adjustments to altered cardiovascular activity, also responded to SIN-1 with elevated NGFI-B mRNA levels. However, the only change in mean arterial blood pressure caused by this NO donor was a transient and modest increase. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that in the intact rat NO stimulates the activity of PVN neurons that control the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. It must be noted, however, that our results do not allow us to determine whether this effect was direct or mediated through PVN afferents. This study should help resolve the controversy generated by the use of isolated brain tissues to investigate the net effect of NO on hypothalamic peptide production.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Amygdala; Animals; Cerebral Ventricles; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; DNA-Binding Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes, Immediate-Early; Hypothalamus; Ibuprofen; Injections, Intraventricular; Male; Molsidomine; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Donors; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1; Organ Specificity; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; Receptors, Steroid; RNA, Messenger; Supraoptic Nucleus; Transcription Factors; Transcription, Genetic; Vasopressins

Neurohypophyseal secretion of arginine vasopressin is stimulated by decreased systemic glucose availability. Nitric oxide is produced by paraventricular and supraoptic magnocellular neurons, and is implicated in central mechanisms controlling plasma sasopressin and glucose levels. The current studies investigated the role of this neurotransmitter in glucoprivic induction of AP-1 transcriptional activity in hypothalamic vasopressinergic neurons by examining whether pharmacological manipulation of central nitric oxide/guanylate cyclase/cGMP signaling alters nuclear accumulation of Fos immunoreactivity in these cells. Adult male rats pretreated by intraventricular administration of saline exhibited extensive colabeling of vasopressinergic neurons in both brain sites for Fos following systemic injection of the glucose antimetabolite, 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Pretreatment with the nitric oxide donor. SIN1, resulted in decreased numbers of paraventricular and supraoptic Fos-positive vasopressinergic neurons during glucoprivation. In other animals. coadministration of SIN1 and the nitric-oxide sensitive guanylate cyclase inhibitor, ODQ, prior to the antimetabolite reversed these inhibitory effects of SIN1 on Fos expression by these cells. Intracerebral administration of ODQ alone did not significantly enhance expression of Fos by vasopressinergic neurons in either site. The present studies demonstrate that exogenous activation of the nitric oxide/guanylate cyclase/cGMP pathway in the brain inhibits nuclear accumulation of the AP-1 transcription factor, Fos, in vasopressinergic neurons during cellular glucopenia, and suggest that this neurotransmitter is critical for transactivational effects of glucoprivation on these neuropeptidergic neurons.

Topics: Animals; Deoxyglucose; Enzyme Inhibitors; Glucose; Guanylate Cyclase; Hypothalamus; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Male; Molsidomine; Neurons; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Donors; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Oxadiazoles; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; Quinoxalines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Transcription Factor AP-1; Vasopressins

Experiments were designed to determine the role of the L-arginine pathway in endothelium-dependent relaxations to vasopressin. The effects of L-arginine analogues NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) on basal and vasopressin-induced activity of nitric oxide synthase were studied in isolated canine basilar arteries. Rings with and without endothelium were suspended for isometric tension recording in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution bubbled with 94% O2-6% CO2 (37 degrees C, pH 7.4). Radioimmunoassay was used to determine the level of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). All experiments were performed in the presence of indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. L-NAME and L-NMMA caused endothelium-dependent contractions and inhibited basal production of cGMP. In contrast, L-NNA did not affect basal tone or basal production of cGMP. L-Arginine analogues inhibited relaxations to vasopressin but did not affect relaxations to a nitric oxide donor, molsidomine (SIN-1). The effects of L-NNA, L-NAME, and L-NMMA were reversed in the presence of L-arginine. The relaxations to vasopressin were associated with an increase of cGMP levels in the arterial wall. This effect of vasopressin was inhibited in the presence of L-NNA. These studies suggest that the relaxations to vasopressin are mediated by activation of the endothelial L-arginine pathway, leading to increased production of nitric oxide, with subsequent activation of guanylate cyclase in smooth muscle cells. In canine basilar artery, L-NAME and L-NMMA are nonselective inhibitors of both basal and stimulated production of nitric oxide, whereas L-NNA selectively inhibits vasopressin-induced activation of the L-arginine pathway.

Topics: Animals; Arginine; Basilar Artery; Cyclic GMP; Dogs; Endothelium, Vascular; In Vitro Techniques; Molsidomine; Nitric Oxide; Nitroarginine; Vasodilation; Vasopressins