cyclic-gmp and Tachycardia

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) constitutes an important component of neural substrates of physiological and behavioral responses to aversive stimuli, and it has been implicated on cardiovascular responses evoked by stress. Nevertheless, the local neurochemical mechanisms involved in BNST control of cardiovascular responses during aversive threats are still poorly understood. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the involvement of activation in the BNST of the neuronal isoform of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), as well as of signaling mechanisms related to nitric oxide effects such as soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and protein kinase G (PKG) on cardiovascular responses induced by an acute session of restraint stress in male rats. We observed that bilateral microinjection of either the nonselective NOS inhibitor Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), the selective nNOS inhibitor Nω-Propyl-L-arginine (NPLA) or the sGC inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) into the BNST enhanced the tachycardic response and decreased the drop in tail cutaneous temperature evoked by acute restraint stress, but without affecting the increase on blood pressure. Bilateral BNST treatment with the selective PKG inhibitor KT5823 also facilitated the heart rate increase and decreased the drop in cutaneous temperature, in addition to enhancing the blood pressure increase. Taken together, these results provide evidence that NO released from nNOS and activation of sGC and PKG within the BNST play an inhibitory influence on tachycardia to stress, whereas this signaling mechanism mediates the sympathetic-mediated cutaneous vasoconstriction.

Topics: Animals; Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular System; Cyclic GMP; Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; Heart Rate; Male; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Rats, Wistar; Restraint, Physical; Septal Nuclei; Skin Temperature; Stress, Psychological; Tachycardia

Neural reflex mechanisms, such as the baroreflex, are involved in regulating cardiovascular system activity. Previous results showed that the ventral portion of the medial prefrontal cortex (vMPFC) is involved in modulation only of the cardiac baroreflex bradycardic component. Moreover, vMPFC N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors modulate the bradycardia baroreflex, but the baroreflex tachycardic component has not been investigated. Furthermore, glutamatergic neurotransmission into the vMPFC is involved in activation of the cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Finally, it has been demonstrated that glutamatergic neurotransmission into the vMPFC can be modulated by the endocannabinoid system and that activation of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor by anandamide, an endocannabinoid, can decrease both cardiac baroreflex bradycardic and tachycardic responses. Thus, there is the possibility that glutamatergic neurotransmission into the vMPFC does not modulate only the cardiac bradycardic component of the baroreflex. Therefore, the present study investigated whether glutamatergic neurotransmission into the vMPFC modulates both cardiac baroreflex bradycardic and tachycardic responses. We found that vMPFC bilateral microinjection of the NMDA receptor antagonist AP7 (4 nmol/200 nl), of a selective inhibitor of neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthase N-propyl (0.08 nmol/200 nl), of the NO scavenger carboxy-PTIO (2 nmol/200 nl), or of the NO-sensitive guanylate cyclase ODQ (2 nmol/200 nl) decreased the baroreflex activity in unanesthetized rats. Therefore, our results demonstrate the participation of NMDA receptors, production of NO, and activation of guanylate cyclase in the vMPFC in the modulation of both cardiac baroreflex bradycardic and tachycardic responses.

Topics: Animals; Autonomic Nervous System; Baroreflex; Bradycardia; Cyclic GMP; Guanylate Cyclase; Male; Nitric Oxide; Prefrontal Cortex; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Signal Transduction; Tachycardia

The Na-Ca exchanger (NCX) is a critical calcium efflux pathway in excitable cells, but little is known regarding its autonomic regulation.. We investigated beta-adrenergic receptor and muscarinic receptor regulation of the cardiac NCX in control and heart failure (HF) conditions in atrially paced pigs. NCX current in myocytes from control swine hearts was significantly increased by isoproterenol, and this response was reversed by concurrent muscarinic receptor stimulation with the addition of carbachol, demonstrating "accentuated antagonism." Okadaic acid eliminated the inhibitory effect of carbachol on isoproterenol-stimulated NCX current, indicating that muscarinic receptor regulation operates via protein phosphatase-induced dephosphorylation. However, in myocytes from atrially paced tachycardia-induced HF pigs, the NCX current was significantly larger at baseline but less responsive to isoproterenol compared with controls, whereas carbachol failed to inhibit isoproterenol-stimulated NCX current, and 8-Br-cGMP did not restore muscarinic responsiveness. Protein phosphatase type 1 dialysis significantly reduced NCX current in failing but not control cells, consistent with NCX hyperphosphorylation in HF. Protein phosphatase type 1 levels associated with NCX were significantly depressed in HF pigs compared with control, and total phosphatase activity associated with NCX was significantly decreased.. We conclude that the NCX is autonomically modulated, but HF reduces the level and activity of associated phosphatases; defective dephosphorylation then "locks" the exchanger in a highly active state.

Topics: Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Animals; Carbachol; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; Cell Separation; Cells, Cultured; Cyclic GMP; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Antagonism; Female; Heart Failure; Isoproterenol; Male; Muscarinic Agonists; Myocytes, Cardiac; Niflumic Acid; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; Phosphorylation; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; Receptors, Muscarinic; Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; Swine; Tachycardia

Ventricular concentrations of atrial, brain (BNP) and C-type natriuretic peptide are enhanced in congestive heart failure (CHF). Natriuretic peptide receptors are present on ventricular myocytes and stimulate guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) production. cGMP has been demonstrated to affect myocyte function in vitro. Thus we hypothesized that the intracardiac natriuretic peptide system may modulate myocardial and coronary function in CHF. To test this hypothesis, the effects of an intracoronary infusion of the natriuretic peptide receptor antagonist HS-142-1 on ventricular and coronary function were examined in anesthetized dogs with chronic CHF. To determine whether receptor stimulation had contrasting effects to those of receptor blockade, intracoronary BNP was infused in anesthetized normal and CHF dogs. Low-dose HS-142-1 delayed and slowed left ventricular (LV) relaxation and decreased coronary blood flow without changes in LV pressures. Higher doses further impaired LV relaxation without further decreases in coronary blood flow. In normal and CHF dogs, exogenous BNP produced the opposite effect with a quicker onset and faster rate of LV relaxation without effects on LV pressures or coronary blood flow. The endogenous natriuretic peptide system has an autocrine-paracrine role to modulate LV and coronary vascular function in CHF.

Topics: Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Animals; Blood Pressure; Cardiac Output; Cardiomyopathies; Coronary Circulation; Coronary Vessels; Cyclic GMP; Dogs; Heart Failure; Heart Rate; Hemodynamics; Humans; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Polysaccharides; Propanolamines; Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Tachycardia; Vascular Resistance; Ventricular Function, Left

The interactions of the systemic adaptations during and after rapid ventricular pacing, a model of heart failure, were assessed in conscious, unstressed dogs. One week of ventricular tachycardia (260 beats/min) significantly reduced mean +/- SEM cardiac output (2.3 +/- 0.1 to 1.2 +/- 0.1 liter/min), mean arterial pressure (119 +/- 3 to 93 +/- 3 mm Hg), renal blood flow (168 +/- 19 to 96 +/- 9 ml/min), sodium excretion (36 +/- 5 to 10 +/- 4 mEq/d), increased left and right atrial pressures (8 +/- 1 to 21 +/- 1 and 4 +/- 0 to 11 +/- 1 mm Hg, respectively), plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration (24 +/- 4 to 141 +/- 38 fmol/ml), plasma cyclic GMP concentration (9 +/- 1 to 16 +/- 4 pmol/ml), and urinary cyclic GMP excretion (0.77 +/- 0.05 to 2.18 +/- 0.34 nmol/min). These changes persisted throughout 3 weeks of pacing. Gradual increases in systemic and renal vascular resistances (to 122 +/- 17 and 1.30 +/- 0.22 mm Hg/liter/min, respectively) and reductions in glomerular filtration rate (65 +/- 6 to 44 +/- 4 ml/min) reached significance during the third week. Resumption of sinus rhythm stimulated a brisk natriuresis and a return of cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, and hormone concentrations to control values within 7 days. However, increases of left and right atrial pressures (14 +/- 2 and 8 +/- 1 mm Hg, respectively) were still present after 2 months of recovery. In conclusion, persistent increases in cardiac filling pressures were induced by rapid ventricular pacing in conscious, unstressed dogs, whereas the systemic hemodynamic, renal, and hormonal responses were largely reversible during recovery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Blood Pressure; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; Cyclic GMP; Disease Models, Animal; Dogs; Female; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Heart Failure; Heart Rate; Heart Ventricles; Hemodynamics; Kidney; Male; Natriuresis; Renin; Tachycardia; Vascular Resistance