2-3-dioxo-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline and Bradycardia

The dorsal periaqueductal gray area (dPAG) is involved in cardiovascular modulation. In a previous study, we showed that noradrenaline (NA) microinjected into the dPAG caused a vasopressin-mediated pressor response, involving a relay in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). In the present study, we evaluated the involvement of ionotropic glutamate receptors within the PVN in the cardiovascular response to NA microinjection into the dPAG of unanesthetized rats. Microinjection of the selective NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist LY235959 (2nmol/100nL) unilaterally into the PVN did not affect the cardiovascular response evoked by microinjection of NA (15nmol/50nL) into the dPAG. On the other hand, unilateral PVN pretreatment with the non-NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist NBQX (2nmol/100nL) significantly reduced the pressor and cardiac response caused by microinjection of NA into the dPAG. In addition, bilateral PVN pretreatment with NBQX (2nmol/100nL) blocked the cardiovascular response to NA injected into the dPAG. In conclusion, the present results suggest that bilateral PVN activation of non-NMDA glutamate receptors mediates the vasopressin-related cardiovascular response to the microinjection of NA into the dPAG.

Topics: Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Animals; Blood Pressure; Bradycardia; Catheters, Indwelling; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Heart Rate; Isoquinolines; Male; Microinjections; Norepinephrine; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus; Periaqueductal Gray; Quinoxalines; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, AMPA; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate

It is known that enrichment of glutamatergic transmission in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) plays an important role in central cardiovascular regulation. Our previous study demonstrated that nicotine decreased blood pressure and heart rate in the NTS probably acting via the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs)-Ca²⁺-calmodulin-eNOS-NO signaling pathway. The possible relationship between glutamate and nicotine in the NTS for cardiovascular regulation is poorly understood. This study investigated the involvement of glutamate receptors in the cardiovascular effects of nicotine in the NTS. Nicotine (a non-selective nAChRs agonist), MK801 (a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist), APV (a competitive NMDA receptor antagonist), or NBQX (a selective AMPA receptor antagonist) was microinjected into the NTS of anesthetized Wistar-Kyoto rats. Microinjection of nicotine (1.5 pmol) into the NTS produced decreases in blood pressure and heart rate. The hypotensive and bradycardic effects of nicotine were abolished by prior administration of MK801 (1 nmol) and APV (10 nmol), but was completely restored after 60 min of recovery. In contrast, prior administration of NBQX (10 pmol) into the NTS did not alter the cardiovascular effects of nicotine. The nitrate (served as total NO) production in response to nicotine microinjection into the NTS was suppressed by prior administration of APV. These results suggest that the hypotensive and bradycardic effects of nicotine in the NTS might be mediated through NMDA receptors, and that the nAChRs-NMDA receptor-NO pathway could be involved.

Topics: Animals; Blood Pressure; Bradycardia; Dizocilpine Maleate; Drug Interactions; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Glutamic Acid; Heart Rate; Hypotension; Male; Nicotine; Nicotinic Agonists; Quinoxalines; Rats; Rats, Inbred WKY; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Signal Transduction; Solitary Nucleus; Valine

In the present study, we investigated the role played by the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the modulation of cardiac baroreflex activity in unanesthetized rats. Bilateral microinjections of the nonselective neurotransmission blocker CoCl(2) into the PVN decreased the reflex bradycardic response evoked by blood pressure increases, but had no effect on reflex tachycardia evoked by blood pressure decreases. Bilateral microinjections of the selective NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist LY235959 into the PVN caused effects that were similar to those observed after microinjections of CoCl(2), decreasing reflex bradycardia without affecting tachycardic response. The microinjection of the selective non-NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist NBQX into the PVN did not affect the baroreflex activity. Also, the microinjection of L-glutamate into the PVN increased the reflex bradycardia, an effect opposed to that observed after PVN treatment with CoCl(2) or LY235959, and this effect of L-glutamate was blocked by PVN pretreatment with LY235959. LY235959 injected into the PVN after i.v. treatment with the selective beta(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist atenolol still decreased the reflex bradycardia. Taken together, our results suggest a facilitatory influence of the PVN on the bradycardic response of the baroreflex through activation of local NMDA glutamate receptors and a modulation of the cardiac parasympathetic activity.

Topics: Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Animals; Baroreflex; Blood Pressure; Bradycardia; Cobalt; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Glutamic Acid; Heart; Isoquinolines; Male; Microinjections; Parasympathetic Nervous System; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus; Quinoxalines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate

In the present study, we report the effect of insular cortex (IC) ablation caused by bilateral microinjection of the non-selective synaptic blocker CoCl(2) on cardiac baroreflex response in unanesthetized rats as well as the involvement of local glutamatergic neurotransmission. Unilateral (left or right) microinjection of CoCl(2) (1 nmol/ 100 nL) did not affect the bradycardiac response to blood pressure increase evoked by intravenous infusion of phenylephrine nor the tachycardiac response to blood pressure decrease caused by intravenous infusion of sodium nitroprusside, 10 min after CoCl(2). Bilateral microinjection of CoCl(2) into IC decreased the magnitude of reflex bradycardia without affecting tachycardiac responses. Baroreflex activity returned to control values 60 min after CoCl(2) microinjection, confirming its reversible effect. Further we studied the possible involvement of IC-glutamatergic neurotransmission in baroreflex modulation. We observed that bilateral microinjection of the selective NMDA receptor antagonist LY235959 (4 nmol/100 nL) into the IC decreased the magnitude of reflex bradycardia without affecting tachycardiac responses. IC treatment with the selective non-NMDA antagonist NBQX (4 nmol/100 nL) did not affect baroreflex activity. The results suggest that synapses within the IC have a tonic excitatory influence on the baroreflex parasympathetic component. Moreover, the present data suggest that local NMDA-receptors are involved in the IC-mediated tonic excitatory influence on baroreflex parasympathetic activity.

Topics: Anesthetics; Animals; Antihypertensive Agents; Autonomic Pathways; Baroreflex; Blood Pressure; Bradycardia; Cerebral Cortex; Cobalt; Efferent Pathways; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Glutamic Acid; Heart Rate; Isoquinolines; Neurons; Nitroprusside; Quinoxalines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Synaptic Transmission

Summary 1. In the present study, we investigated the effects of inhibition of the lateral hypothalamus (LH) neurotransmission with bilateral microinjection of CoCl(2), a non-selective blocker of neurotransmission, on modulation of cardiac baroreflex responses in conscious rats as well as the involvement of LH glutamatergic neurotransmission in this modulation. 2. Reflex bradycardiac and tachycardiac responses to blood pressure increases (following i.v. infusion of phenylephrine) or decreases (following i.v. infusion of sodium nitroprusside) were investigated in conscious male Wistar rats. Responses were evaluated before and after microinjection of 1 nmol/100 nL CoCl(2), 2 nmol/100 nL 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-nitro-2,3-dioxobenzoquinoxaline-7-sulphonamide (NBQX; a selective non-N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor antagonist) or different doses (2, 4 or 8 nmol/100 nL) of the selective NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist LY235959. 3. Microinjection of CoCl(2) into the LH had no effect on the tachycardiac baroreflex response, but did evoke a decrease in the reflex bradycardia caused by increases in blood pressure. Microinjection of NBQX into the LH had a similar effect on reflex bradycardia as CoCl(2), but had no effect on the tachycardiac response. Microinjection of increasing doses of LY235959 into the LH had no effect on the cardiac baroreflex response. 4. In conclusion, the data suggest that the LH has a tonic facilitatory influence on the parasympathetic component of the baroreflex. The results also indicate that this facilitatory influence is mediated by local LH glutamatergic neurotransmission through non-NMDA glutamatergic receptors.

Topics: Animals; Baroreflex; Blood Pressure; Bradycardia; Cobalt; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral; Isoquinolines; Male; Microinjections; Quinoxalines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Synaptic Transmission; Tachycardia