Intracerebroventricular saccharide infusions inhibit thirst induced by systemic hypertonicity

Central regulation of body fluid homeostasis

Extracellular fluids, including blood, lymphatic fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid, are collectively called body fluids. The Na⁺ concentration ([Na⁺]) in body fluids is maintained at 135-145 mM and is broadly conserved among terrestrial animals. Homeostatic osmoregulation by Na⁺ is vital for life because severe hyper- or hypotonicity elicits irreversible organ damage and lethal neurological trauma. To achieve "body fluid homeostasis" or "Na homeostasis", the brain continuously monitors [Na⁺] in body fluids and controls water/salt intake and water/salt excretion by the kidneys. These physiological functions are primarily regulated based on information on [Na⁺] and relevant circulating hormones, such as angiotensin II, aldosterone, and vasopressin. In this review, we discuss sensing mechanisms for [Na⁺] and hormones in the brain that control water/salt intake behaviors, together with the responsible sensors (receptors) and relevant neural pathways. We also describe mechanisms in the brain by which [Na⁺] increases in body fluids activate the sympathetic neural activity leading to hypertension.

From sensory circumventricular organs to cerebral cortex: Neural pathways controlling thirst and hunger

Much progress has been made during the past 30 years with respect to elucidating the neural and endocrine pathways by which bodily needs for water and energy are brought to conscious awareness through the generation of thirst and hunger. One way that circulating hormones influence thirst and hunger is by acting on neurones within sensory circumventricular organs (CVOs). This is possible because the subfornical organ and organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT), the sensory CVOs in the forebrain, and the area postrema in the hindbrain lack a normal blood-brain barrier such that neurones within them are exposed to blood-borne agents. The neural signals generated by hormonal action in these sensory CVOs are relayed to several sites in the cerebral cortex to stimulate or inhibit thirst or hunger. The subfornical organ and OVLT respond to circulating angiotensin II, relaxin and hypertonicity to drive thirst-related neural pathways, whereas circulating amylin, leptin and possibly glucagon-like peptide-1 act at the area postrema to influence neural pathways inhibiting food intake. As a result of investigations using functional brain imaging techniques, the insula and anterior cingulate cortex, as well as several other cortical sites, have been implicated in the conscious perception of thirst and hunger in humans. Viral tracing techniques show that the anterior cingulate cortex and insula receive neural inputs from thirst-related neurones in the subfornical organ and OVLT, with hunger-related neurones in the area postrema having polysynaptic efferent connections to these cortical regions. For thirst, initially, the median preoptic nucleus and, subsequently, the thalamic paraventricular nucleus and lateral hypothalamus have been identified as likely sites of synaptic links in pathways from the subfornical organ and OVLT to the cortex. The challenge remains to identify the links in the neural pathways that relay signals originating in sensory CVOs to cortical sites subserving either thirst or hunger.

Sodium sensing in the brain

Sodium (Na) homeostasis is crucial for life, and the Na⁺ level ([Na⁺]) of body fluids is strictly maintained at a range of 135–145 mM. However, the existence of a [Na⁺] sensor in the brain has long been controversial until Na_x was identified as the molecular entity of the sensor. This review provides an overview of the [Na⁺]-sensing mechanism in the brain for the regulation of salt intake by summarizing a series of our studies on Na_x. Na_x is a Na channel expressed in the circumventricular organs (CVOs) in the brain. Among the CVOs, the subfornical organ (SFO) is the principal site for the control of salt intake behavior, where Na_x populates the cellular processes of astrocytes and ependymal cells enveloping neurons. A local expression of endothelin-3 in the SFO modulates the [Na⁺] sensitivity for Na_x activation, and thereby Na_x is likely to be activated in the physiological [Na⁺] range. Na_x stably interacts with Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase whereby Na⁺ influx via Na_x is coupled with activation of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase associated with the consumption of ATP. The consequent activation of anaerobic glucose metabolism of Na_x-positive glial cells upregulates the cellular release of lactate, and this lactate functions as a gliotransmitter to activate GABAergic neurons in the SFO. The GABAergic neurons presumably regulate hypothetic neurons involved in the control of salt intake behavior. Recently, a patient with essential hypernatremia caused by autoimmunity to Na_x was found. In this case, the hypernatremia was considered to be induced by the complement-mediated cell death in the CVOs, where Na_x specifically populates.

Glial Nax Channels Control Lactate Signaling to Neurons for Brain [Na+] Sensing

Sodium (Na) homeostasis is crucial for life, and Na levels in body fluids are constantly monitored in the brain. The subfornical organ (SFO) is the center of the sensing responsible for the control of salt-intake behavior, where Na(x) channels are expressed in specific glial cells as the Na-level sensor. Here, we show direct interaction between Na(x) channels and alpha subunits of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, which brings about Na-dependent activation of the metabolic state of the glial cells. The metabolic enhancement leading to extensive lactate production was observed in the SFO of wild-type mice, but not of the Na(x)-knockout mice. Furthermore, lactate, as well as Na, stimulated the activity of GABAergic neurons in the SFO. These results suggest that the information on a physiological increase of the Na level in body fluids sensed by Na(x) in glial cells is transmitted to neurons by lactate as a mediator to regulate neural activities of the SFO.

Hydromineral neuroendocrinology: mechanism of sensing sodium levels in the mammalian brain

Dehydration causes an increase in the sodium (Na) concentration and osmolarity of body fluids. For Na homeostasis of the body, control of Na and water intake and excretion are of prime importance. Although the circumventricular organs (CVOs) were suggested to be involved in body-fluid homeostasis, the system for sensing Na levels within the brain, which is responsible for the control of Na- and water-intake behaviour, has long been an enigma. Na(x) is an atypical sodium channel that is assumed to be a descendant of the voltage-gated sodium channel family. Our studies on the Na(x)-gene-targeting (Na(x)(-/-)) mouse revealed that Na(x) channels are localized to the CVOs and serve as a sodium-level sensor of body fluids. As the first step to understand the cellular mechanism by which the information sensed by Na(x) channels is reflected in the activity of the organs, we dissected the subcellular distribution of Na(x). Double-immunostaining and immuno-electron microscopic analyses revealed that Na(x) is exclusively localized to perineuronal lamellate processes extending from ependymal cells and astrocytes in the organs. In addition, glial cells isolated from the subfornical organ were sensitive to an increase in the extracellular sodium level, as analysed by an ion-imaging method. These results suggest that glial cells bearing Na(x) channels are the first to sense a physiological increase in the level of sodium in body fluids, and regulate the neural activity of the CVOs by enveloping neurons. Close communication between inexcitable glial cells and excitable neural cells thus appears to be the basis of the central control of salt homeostasis.

Specific Na+ sensors are functionally expressed in a neuronal population of the median preoptic nucleus of the rat

Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were performed on acute brain slices of male rats to investigate the ability of the neurons of the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) to detect fluctuation in extracellular osmolarity and sodium concentration ([Na+]out). Local application of hypotonic and hypertonic artificial CSF hyperpolarized and depolarized the neurons, respectively. Similar responses obtained under synaptic isolation (0.5 microM TTX) highlighted the intrinsic ability of the MnPO neurons to detect changes in extracellular osmolarity and [Na+]out. Manipulating extracellular osmolarity, [Na+]out, and [Cl-]out showed in an independent manner that the MnPO neurons responded to a change in [Na+]out exclusively. The specific Na+ response was voltage insensitive and depended on the driving force for Na+ ions, indicating that a sustained background Na+ permeability controlled the membrane potential of the MnPO neurons. This specific response was not reduced by Gd3+, amiloride, or benzamil, ruling out the participation of mechanosensitive cationic channels, specific epithelial Na+ channels, and Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-gated Na+ channels, respectively. Combination of in situ hybridization, using a riboprobe directed against the atypical Na+ channel (Na(X)), and immunohistochemistry, using an antibody against neuron-specific nuclei protein, revealed that a substantial population of MnPO neurons expressed the Na(X) channel, which was characterized recently as a concentration-sensitive Na+ channel. This study shows that a neuronal population of the MnPO acts as functional Na+ sensors and that the Na(X) channel might represent the molecular basis for the extracellular sodium level sensing in these neurons.

Cerebral Na concentration, Na appetite and thirst of sheep: influence of somatostatin and losartan

Na and water intakes of Na-depleted sheep are influenced by changes in cerebral Na concentration. The effect of intracerebroventricular infusion of somatostatin or losartan, the ANG II type 1 receptor antagonist, on the Na appetite and thirst of Na-depleted sheep during infusions that decrease (intracerebroventricular hypertonic mannitol) or increase (intracerebroventricular or systemic hypertonic NaCl) cerebral Na concentration was investigated. Na intake was increased but water intake was unchanged during intracerebroventricular infusion of hypertonic mannitol. The increased Na appetite caused by intracerebroventricular infusion of hypertonic mannitol was decreased by concurrent intracerebroventricular infusion of either somatostatin or losartan, with somatostatin being most effective. Water intake was increased during intracerebroventricular infusion of hypertonic mannitol and somatostatin. Na intake was decreased and water intake was increased during systemic or intracerebroventricular infusion of hypertonic NaCl. Intracerebroventricular infusion of losartan blocked both (Na and water intake), whereas somatostatin did not influence either of these changes in intake. The results further consolidate a role for somatostatin and ANG II in the central mechanisms controlling Na appetite and thirst of sheep.

Hypothalamic integration of body fluid regulation

The progression of animal life from the paleozoic ocean to rivers and diverse econiches on the planet's surface, as well as the subsequent reinvasion of the ocean, involved many different stresses on ionic pattern, osmotic pressure, and volume of the extracellular fluid bathing body cells. The relatively constant ionic pattern of vertebrates reflects a genetic "set" of many regulatory mechanisms--particularly renal regulation. Renal regulation of ionic pattern when loss of fluid from the body is disproportionate relative to the extracellular fluid composition (e.g., gastric juice with vomiting and pancreatic secretion with diarrhea) makes manifest that a mechanism to produce a biologically relatively inactive extracellular anion HCO3- exists, whereas no comparable mechanism to produce a biologically inactive cation has evolved. Life in the ocean, which has three times the sodium concentration of extracellular fluid, involves quite different osmoregulatory stress to that in freshwater. Terrestrial life involves risk of desiccation and, in large areas of the planet, salt deficiency. Mechanisms integrated in the hypothalamus (the evolutionary ancient midbrain) control water retention and facilitate excretion of sodium, and also control the secretion of renin by the kidney. Over and above the multifactorial processes of excretion, hypothalamic sensors reacting to sodium concentration, as well as circumventricular organs sensors reacting to osmotic pressure and angiotensin II, subserve genesis of sodium hunger and thirst. These behaviors spectacularly augment the adaptive capacities of animals. Instinct (genotypic memory) and learning (phenotypic memory) are melded to give specific behavior apt to the metabolic status of the animal. The sensations, compelling emotions, and intentions generated by these vegetative systems focus the issue of the phylogenetic emergence of consciousness and whether primal awareness initially came from the interoreceptors and vegetative systems rather than the distance receptors.

Central administration of somatostatin suppresses the stimulated sodium intake of sheep

The effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion (50 micrograms/h over 3 h) of somatostatin (SOM) on Na and water intake of sheep was determined. In Na-deplete sheep, infusion of SOM-(28) but not SOM-(14) decreased (P less than 0.05) Na intake, while both SOM-(28) and SOM-(14) increased water intake. I.c.v. infusion of SOM-(28) did not significantly affect Na or water intake of Na-replete sheep. I.c.v. infusion of SOM-(28) decreased (P less than 0.01) Na intake but did not alter the high water intakes of water-deprived sheep or sheep infused i.c.v. with angiotensin II. The results are compatible with an inhibitory action of somatostatin on stimulated brain mechanisms subserving Na appetite but not on stimulated brain mechanisms subserving thirst. Somatostatin may antagonize the inhibition of thirst in Na-deplete sheep. The results suggest that somatostatin may have a regulatory role in ingestive behavior concerned with body fluid and Na homeostasis. The difference between SOM-(14) and SOM-(28) in decreasing the Na intake of Na-deplete sheep may be due to a difference in potency or mechanism of action.