Cholinergic hyperactivity in the lateral septal area of spontaneously hypertensive rats: depressor effect of hemicholinium-3 and pirenzepine

Cholinergic stimulation in the lateral septal area activates anterior hypothalamic area neurons via excitatory amino acid receptors in rats

We have previously reported that some neurons in the anterior hypothalamic area (AHA) are tonically activated by endogenous angiotensins in rats and that activities of these AHA angiotensin II-sensitive neurons are enhanced in spontaneously hypertensive rats. It is suggested that there exist neuronal projections from the lateral septal area (LSV) to the AHA in rats. In this study, we examined whether neurons in the LSV are involved in activation of AHA angiotensin II-sensitive neurons. Male Wistar rats were anesthetized and artificially ventilated. Extracellular potentials were recorded from single neurons in the AHA. Microinjection of carbachol into the LSV caused an increase in firing rate of AHA angiotensin II-sensitive neurons. The carbachol-induced increase of firing rate of AHA angiotensin II-sensitive neurons was inhibited by pressure application of the excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist kynurenate but not by the AT1 receptor antagonist losartan onto the same neurons. Microinjection of carbachol into the LSV also increased the firing rate of AHA ACh-sensitive neurons, and the carbachol-induced increase of firing rate of ACh-sensitive neurons was again abolished by pressure application of kynurenate but not by the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine onto the same neurons. Microinjection of the muscarinic receptor antagonist 4-DAMP into the LSV did not affect the firing rate of AHA angiotensin II-sensitive neurons. These findings indicate that neurons in the LSV are involved in activation of AHA angiotensin II-sensitive neurons. It seems likely that the carbachol-induced activation of AHA angiotensin II-sensitive neurons is mainly mediated via excitatory amino acid receptors at AHA neurons.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone in cardiovascular pathophysiology

Thyrotropin (TSH)-releasing hormone (TRH) also known as thyroliberin was the first of a number of peptides exerting several roles as a hormone and as a neuropeptide. Its ubiquitous distribution in the hypothalamus and in the extrahypothalamic regions and its diverse pharmacological and physiological effects are all features of its dual functions. For this reason, TRH has been the subject of much research throughout the past 20 years, work that has examined the structure, function, distribution, and regulation of the tripeptide and it has been extensively reviewed elsewhere [O'Leary R., O'Connor B. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone. J Neurochem. 1995;65:953-963.; Nillni E., Sevarino K. The biology of pro-thyrotropin-releasing hormone-derived peptides. Endocrine Reviews, 1999;20:599-664.]. After a brief overview of its distribution, hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic functions, and receptors involved, this review discusses efforts devoted to support TRH role in cardiovascular regulation with a main focus on hypertension pathophysiology in experimental models and humans.

Projections from the caudal part to the rostral part of the lateral septal area mediate blood pressure increase

We previously demonstrated that restraint stress-induced pressor responses were inhibited by bilateral microinjection of muscimol into the rostral part of the ventral zone of the lateral septal area (LSV). The caudal part of the lateral septal area is also reported to be involved in blood pressure regulation. In this study, we examined whether the LSV receives projections from the caudal part of the dorsal zone of the lateral septal area (LSD) in rats. Injections of a fluorescent tracer into the LSV produced maximal retrograde labeling within the LSD. Microinjection of carbachol (10-100 pmol) into the LSD produced a dose-dependent pressor response. The pressor response to carbachol was inhibited by microinjection of muscimol (80 pmol) or 4-DAMP (1 nmol) into the ipsilateral side of the LSV. Microinjection of muscimol (80 pmol) into the LSD also inhibited the pressor response induced by restraint stress. Repeated injections of carbachol (30 pmol) into the LSD produced Fos immunoreactivity in the ipsilateral side of the LSV. These findings suggest that the LSD projects to the LSV and that these projections may be involved in blood pressure increase.

Cholinergic mechanism in the lateral septal area is involved in the stress-induced blood pressure increase in rats

Previously, we demonstrated that the rostral part of the ventral zone of the lateral septal area (LSV) was involved in the restraint stress-induced pressor response. It is suggested that there exist acetylcholine receptors responsible for blood pressure increase in the caudal part of the lateral septal area. In this study, we examined whether acetylcholine receptors responsible for pressor responses also exist in the rostral part of the LSV and whether these acetylcholine receptors are involved in the stress-induced pressor response in rats. Microinjection of either carbachol (10-100pmol) or physostigmine (0.46 and 1.5nmol) into the LSV caused a dose-dependent increase in blood pressure. The pressor response to carbachol (30pmol) was inhibited by the M1 antagonist pirenzepine and the M3 antagonist 4-DAMP mustard but not by the M2 antagonist methoctramine injected into the LSV. Bilateral microinjections of the M1/M3 antagonist 4-DAMP (1nmol) inhibited the restraint stress-induced pressor response. These findings suggest that M1/M3 muscarinic receptors responsible for blood pressure increase exist in the rostral part of the LSV and they are partly involved in the stress-induced pressor response.

The lateral septal area is involved in mediation of immobilization stress-induced blood pressure increase in rats

Immobilization stress increased the number of neurons with Fos immunoreactivity, mainly in the ventral zone of the rostral part of the lateral septal nucleus (LSV) in rats. Immobilization stress caused an increase in blood pressure, and the stress-induced pressor response was inhibited by the GABA(A) receptor agonist, muscimol (8 and 80 pmol), injected bilaterally into the rostral part of the LSV in a dose-dependent manner. Intracerebroventricular injection of muscimol (16 pmol) did not affect the immobilization stress-induced pressor response. These findings suggest that the rostral part of the LSV is involved in mediation of the stress-induced pressor response.

The hypothalamus and hypertension

Most forms of hypertension are associated with a wide variety of functional changes in the hypothalamus. Alterations in the following substances are discussed: catecholamines, acetylcholine, angiotensin II, natriuretic peptides, vasopressin, nitric oxide, serotonin, GABA, ouabain, neuropeptide Y, opioids, bradykinin, thyrotropin-releasing factor, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, tachykinins, histamine, and corticotropin-releasing factor. Functional changes in these substances occur throughout the hypothalamus but are particularly prominent rostrally; most lead to an increase in sympathetic nervous activity which is responsible for the rise in arterial pressure. A few appear to be depressor compensatory changes. The majority of the hypothalamic changes begin as the pressure rises and are particularly prominent in the young rat; subsequently they tend to fluctuate and overall to diminish with age. It is proposed that, with the possible exception of the Dahl salt-sensitive rat, the hypothalamic changes associated with hypertension are caused by renal and intrathoracic cardiopulmonary afferent stimulation. Renal afferent stimulation occurs as a result of renal ischemia and trauma as in the reduced renal mass rat. It is suggested that afferents from the chest arise, at least in part, from the observed increase in left auricular pressure which, it is submitted, is due to the associated documented impaired ability to excrete sodium. It is proposed, therefore, that the hypothalamic changes in hypertension are a link in an integrated compensatory natriuretic response to the kidney's impaired ability to excrete sodium.

Antisense inhibition of thyrotropin-releasing hormone reduces arterial blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) plays an important role in central cardiovascular regulation. Recently, we described that the TRH precursor gene overexpression induces hypertension in the normal rat. In addition, we published that spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) have central extrahypothalamic TRH hyperactivity with increased TRH synthesis and release and an elevated TRH receptor number. In the present study, we report that intracerebroventricular antisense (AS) treatment with a phosphorothioate oligonucleotide against the TRH precursor gene significantly diminished up to 72 hours and in a dose-dependent manner the increased diencephalic TRH content, whereas normalized systolic blood pressure (SABP) was present in the SHR compared with Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Although basal thyrotropin was higher in SHR compared with WKY rats and this difference disappeared after antisense treatment, no differences were observed in plasma T4 or T3 between strains with or without AS treatment, indicating that the effect of the AS on SABP was independent of the thyroid status. Because the encephalic renin-angiotensin system seems to be crucial in the development and/or maintenance of hypertension in SHR, we investigated the effect of antisense inhibition of TRH on that system and found that TRH antisense treatment significantly diminished the elevated diencephalic angiotensin II (Ang II) content in the SHR without any effect in control animals, suggesting that the Ang II system is involved in the TRH cardiovascular effects. To summarize, the central TRH system seems to be involved in the etiopathogenesis of hypertension in this model of essential hypertension.

Identification and characterization of the rat M1 muscarinic receptor promoter

Five subtypes of the muscarinic receptor have been cloned from both the rat and human genomes. Although all five genes have the coding sequences in a single exon, their structures 5' of the initiation codon are largely uncharacterized, except for the M4 receptor. In the brain, muscarinic receptors mediate motor and memory function by interaction with their ligand acetylcholine. In addition, the M1 muscarinic subtype has been implicated in behavior, stress-adaptive cardiovascular reflexes, and blood pressure regulation. In the current study the M1 muscarinic receptor noncoding 5'-flanking region has been identified and characterized, including the promoter and two 5' noncoding exons located approximately 13-14 kb from the coding exon. Similar to the M4 muscarinic receptor gene the M1 promoter is GC-rich, contains no TATA box, but has two potential CAAT boxes and several putative binding sites for transcription factors such as SP1 and AP-1-3. The transcription initiation site was identified by RNase protection and primer extension. Promoter activity was confirmed in transient expression assays, using luciferase reporter constructs. A 0.89-kb fragment consisting of 480 bp of the promoter, exon 1, and part of intron 1 expressed luciferase activity in two M1 receptor-expressing cell lines (CCL-107 and CCL-147), whereas a longer fragment (1.5 kb) that extends into intron 2 demonstrated significantly increased luciferase activity. The constructs exhibited responses indicating the presence of functional glucocorticoid-, acute-phase-, and heat shock-responsive elements.

Cholinergic mechanism and blood pressure regulation in the central nervous system

Cholinergic neurons in numerous brain regions have been implicated in blood pressure regulation. One of the most important brain regions where cholinergic neurons play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension is the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVL), an essential source of efferent sympathetic activity. Pharmacological and biochemical studies have revealed that acetylcholine release in the RVL is increased in experimental hypertension regardless of its etiology and that this enhanced release of acetylcholine leads to hypertension. The lateral parabrachial nucleus, another important hindbrain area involved in blood pressure regulation, is responsible for the enhanced release of acetylcholine in the RVL of hypertensive animals. Moreover, recent studies have demonstrated the involvement of the hypothalamic defence area, an area believed to be involved in the hypertension induced by chronic stress, in the release of acetylcholine in the RVL and also have demonstrated the existence of direct projections from the hypothalamic structures to the lateral parabrachial nucleus. More studies about mechanisms of the enhanced release of acetylcholine in the RVL of experimentally hypertensive animals will provide important information for central mechanisms of hypertension.

Increased expression of magnocellular vasopressin mRNA in rats with deoxycorticosterone-acetate induced salt appetite

The neuropeptides arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) have been implicated in the genesis of hypertension due to deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt treatment of uninephrectomized rats. In this work, we studied if DOCA treatment of intact rats in doses arousing a salt appetite (a prehypertensive state), modulated mRNA for AVP and OT in the hypothalamus. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were offered both tap water and 3% NaCl in separate bottles and received vehicle or subcutaneous injections of 10 mg DOCA on alternate days for 7 days (4 injections) or 17 days (9 injections). They developed a preference for 3% NaCl solutions 24-48 h after treatment. Brain slices from rats killed on the 8th or 18th day were exposed to 35S-labeled probes encoding prepro-AVP mRNA or OT mRNA, respectively. Expression of these mRNAs was measured in the magnocellular and parvocellular divisions of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and magnocellular cells of the supraoptic nucleus (SON). No changes were obtained in neuropeptide mRNA levels in the parvocellular division of the PVN between control and the two groups of DOCA-treated rats. However, DOCA-treated animals presented an increased number of grains per cell for AVP mRNA in the magnocellular division of the PVN and in magnocellular cells of the SON, as shown by group mean comparisons and frequency histograms. No changes were detected for OT mRNA. In a second series of studies, control or DOCA-treated rats were offered 3% NaCl or water as the only choice. Animals drinking 3% NaCl showed increased AVP and OT mRNA levels, whether they received DOCA or not. However, AVP mRNA levels in both nuclei were higher in DOCA-treated rats drinking 3% NaCl than in controls drinking salt solution. In comparison, control and DOCA-treated rats drinking water showed lower levels of AVP mRNA. OT mRNA levels in the SON remained unchanged in the same groups. The results suggest that in the magnocellular cells of the PVN and SON, increments in AVP mRNA are obtained following increments in salt intake produced by either mineralocorticoid treatment or exclusive salt drinking. In rats offered salt solution and water to drink, DOCA effects on AVP mRNA developed before changes occurred in serum sodium levels. Because combined DOCA + salt treatment induced a higher response in terms of AVP mRNA expression, we suggest that AVP could be a target of the central effects of the mineralocorticoid.

Identification of pressor regions activated by central cholinergic stimulation in rat brain

The acetylcholinesterase inhibitor neostigmine (2 microg) was microinjected into the lateral cerebral ventricle (i.c.v.) of unanesthetized rats to activate central cholinergic receptors. Changes in arterial blood pressure were correlated with changes in Fos-like immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus and forebrain following cholinergic stimulation. Neostigmine increased mean arterial pressure by 39 +/- 3 mmHg at peak (P < 0.05) from a pretreatment level of 104 +/- 4 mmHg. Blood pressure remained elevated for more than 30 min. Distinct Fos-like immunoreactivity was found in the posterior hypothalamic nucleus, the paraventricular nucleus and the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus, the ventral premamillary nucleus, the central nucleus of amygdala, the lateral septum and the medial preoptic area. In contrast, only a very small amount of Fos-like immunoreactivity was scattered in those regions in a control group injected i.c.v. with saline. Pretreatment with the muscarinic receptor antagonist methylatropine (i.c.v., 0.5 microg) prevented the pressor response to neostigmine and evoked a reduced Fos-like immunoreactivity compared to animals given neostigmine without methylatropine. The pressor response to neostigmine was blocked after pretreatment with phenoxybenzamine, however, this did not prevent the development of Fos-like immunoreactivity. These results indicate that the pressor response induced by central cholinergic stimulation may result from muscarinic receptor activation in specific regions of the hypothalamus and the forebrain that are implicated in regulating cardiovascular activity.

Central overexpression of the TRH precursor gene induces hypertension in rats: antisense reversal

Extrahypothalamic TRH participates in cardiovascular regulation and spontaneous hypertension of the rat. To investigate whether an increase in central TRH activity produces hypertension we studied the effect of the preTRH overproduction induced by I.C.V. transfection with a naked eukaryotic expression plasmid vector which encodes preTRH (pCMV-TRH). Northern blot analysis and RT-PCR showed that pCMV-TRH was transcribed in vitro and in vivo. At 24, 48, and 72 hours, pCMV-TRH (100 microg) in a significant and dose-dependent manner increased 37%, 84%, and 49%, respectively, the diencephalic TRH content and SABP (42+/-3, 50+/-2, and 22+/-2 mm Hg, respectively) with respect to the vector without the preTRH cDNA insert (V[TRH(-)]) as measured by RIA and the plethysmographic method, respectively, in awake animals. In addition, using immunohistochemistry we found that the increase of TRH was produced in circumventricular areas where the tripeptide is normally located. To further analyze the specificity of these effects we studied the actions of 23-mer sense (S), antisense (AS), and 3'self-stabilized sense (Ss) and antisense (ASs) phosphorothioate oligonucleotides against the initiation codon region. Only ASs inhibited the increase of TRH content and SABP induced by pCMV-TRH treatment. In addition, pCMV-TRH-induced hypertension seems not to be mediated by central Ang II or serum TSH. To summarize, central TRH overproduction in periventricular areas induced by I.C.V. transfection produces hypertension in rats which is reversed by specific antisense treatment. This model may help in testing effective antisense oligodeoxynucleotides against other candidate genes.

Carbachol-induced pressor responses and muscarinic M1 receptors in the central nucleus of amygdala in conscious rats

The type of muscarinic receptor in the central nucleus of the amygdala that mediates the carbachol-evoked pressor responses was investigated in conscious unrestraint Sprague-Dawley rats. Carbachol (100 ng) injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle caused a significant rise in blood pressure of 31.8+/-4.5 mmHg and a decrease in heart rate of 80.0+/-12.2 beats/min. Pirenzepine (10-75 nmol) injected into the central nucleus of the amygdala inhibited carbachol-induced pressor responses dose-dependently. The bradycardic response to carbachol was also inhibited by pirenzepine, but no dose-dependency was observed. Injection of pirenzepine into the basolateral amygdala at a dose (50 nmol) that inhibited carbachol-induced changes in mean arterial pressure and heart rate when injected into the central nucleus of the amygdala failed to exert any inhibition. Methoctramine at a dose of 50 nmol injected into both the central nucleus of the amygdala and the basolateral amygdala did not cause any significant alteration in the responses. These results indicate that muscarinic M1 receptors in the central nucleus of the amygdala are involved in cardiovascular regulation mediated by central cholinergic pathways.

Modulation of the pressor response elicited by carbachol and electrical stimulation of the amygdala by muscarinic antagonists in conscious rats

1. The nature of the muscarinic receptor involved in mediating cardiovascular changes caused by unilateral microinjection of carbachol (5 nmol) into, and electrical stimulation (200-300 microA) of, the amygdaloid complex was investigated in conscious, unrestrained female Sprague-Dawley rats. 2. Unilateral microinjection of carbachol (5 nmol; n = 6) and electrical stimulation (200-300 microA, 80 Hz, 30 s; n = 4) caused a significant rise in blood pressure of 21 +/- 4 mmHg and 25 +/- 5 mmHg, respectively. These changes were associated with no overall effect on heart rate. The effects of electrical stimulation were found to be repeatable. 3. Pretreatment i.c.v. with pirenzepine (5-20 mmol; n = 6-7 for each dose), dose-dependently inhibited the rise in blood pressure induced by carbachol, whereas AF-DX 116 (100 nmol; n = 6) failed to have any effect on the carbachol-induced pressure response. Neither antagonist alone had any effect on resting baseline variables. 4. Unilateral microinjections of atropine sulphate (1-100 nmol; n = 4-6 for each dose), pirenzepine (0.03-10 nmol; n = 4 for each dose) or AF-DX 116 (10-60 nmol; n = 4-5 for each dose), into the amygdala, dose-dependently inhibited the rise in blood pressure caused by electrical stimulation (200-300 microA). The ID50 values were 1.05, 0.23 and 39.5 nmol, respectively. Although pirenzepine seemed to be more potent than atropine, this difference was not significant. 5. It is concluded that the rise in blood pressure elicited by unilateral microinjection of carbachol into, or electrical stimulation of, the amygdaloid complex is mediated by M1-muscarinic receptors.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone hyperactivity in the preoptic area of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) plays an important role in central cardiovascular regulation through the activation of different neurotransmitter systems at distinct extrahypothalamic sites. To study possible alterations in the TRH system in the hypertensive state, we measured TRH concentration in cerebrospinal fluid and TRH content of the preoptic area in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) by radioimmunoassay. In addition, we also measured the density of the TRH receptor in this area by a rapid filtration technique using [3H]methyl-TRH. We found a significant increase in both the TRH content (634 +/- 61 versus 350 +/- 26 pg/mg protein, SHR versus WKY; P < .01, n = 5) and density of TRH receptors without changes in affinity (Bmax, 5.0 +/- 0.1 versus 3.3 +/- 0.1 fmol/mg protein, P < .01, n = 4). An increase in TRH concentration was also found in the cerebrospinal fluid of SHR (30 +/- 3 versus 21 +/- 2 pg/mL, P < .01, n = 5), suggesting increased TRH release in the central nervous system. Northern blot analysis indicated a threefold augmented abundance of TRH precursor mRNA in the preoptic area of SHR. A polyclonal antibody raised against TRH injected peripherally or intracerebroventricularly lowered arterial blood pressure in SHR but not in WKY. In addition, long-term treatment with enalapril (5 mg/kg twice daily), which was effective in inhibiting serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity by more than 50%, decreased arterial blood pressure and preoptic area TRH content of SHR, whereas another vasodilator, diltiazem (10 mg/kg every 8 hours), failed to produce a similar change.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Extrinsic and intrinsic substance P innervation of the rat lateral septal area calbindin cells

The electrophysiological observations that substance P administration to the lateral septal area elicits both excitatory and inhibitory responses, together with earlier reports on the multiple sources of substance P innervation of the septum, implies that these axons with distinct origins have different functions. This prompted us to examine the origin and neurochemical character of substance P afferents to the lateral septal area. Chronic surgical isolation of the septum from its ventral afferents and retrograde tracer experiments using wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase, both followed by an immunostaining for substance P, were employed to elucidate the origin of these axon terminals. In order to assess the possible co-existence of substance P with other neurotransmitter substances in the parent cells of the septopetal projections, co-localization studies for substance P and choline acetyltransferase, as well as substance P and GABA, were performed. The comparative distribution of substance P fibers and septal calbindin-containing neurons was also investigated using correlated light and electron microscopic double immunostaining. The results are summarized as follows: (i) the substance P innervation of the lateral septal area derives from several hypothalamic nuclei (including the lateral and lateroanterior hypothalamic area, tuber cinereum and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus) and tegmental nuclei (the majority of fibers from the laterodorsal and a few from the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus), as well as intrinsic septal cells; (ii) the septopetal substance P fibers of tegmental origin are cholinergic; intraseptal substance P neurons located in the dorsolateral part of the lateral septum also contain GABA, while substance P neurons seen on the border between the medial and lateral septal area and septopetal hypothalamic substance P cells do not contain GABA or acetylcholine; (iii) substance P fibers from pericellular baskets around calbindin-containing lateral septal neurons with a high degree of selectivity; (iv) approximately 90% of the entire calbindin cell population are postsynaptic targets of substance P axons; (v) their terminals contact the soma and the dendrites of these cells, among them the somatospiny neurons; and (vi) the extrinsic substance P boutons establish asymmetric, while the intrinsic substance P axon terminals form symmetric membrane specializations. Because neurons in the lateral septal area receive hippocampal input and project massively to hypothalamic areas, the different types of substance P input on these neurons can modify the information flow arriving from the hippocampus to diencephalic brain structures at the level of the lateral septal area.

Is the M1-muscarinic receptor a candidate gene for hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat?

1. Central nervous system muscarinic receptors have been implicated in genetic models of hypertension as well as in stress adaptive cardiovascular responses. To determine if the sequence of the M1-muscarinic receptor is pathogenetic for hypertension, we analysed the differences between SHRLJ (spontaneously hypertensive rats) and WKYLJ (Wistar-Kyoto) rats in the sequence of the M1-receptor gene. 2. Specific primer sets were synthesized so as to cover the gene in 10 fragments (158-344 base pairs) with overlaps. Analysis was conducted by both polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-acrylamide and by single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP). 3. No polymorphic locus was found by non-denaturing PCR-acrylamide nor by denaturing SSCP. Slight intrastrain variations in fragment 2 of the parental strains were examined by direct sequencing; however, no difference in sequence was found between SHRLJ and WKYLJ. To identify the chromosomal location and possible linkage with a polymorphic locus, rat/mouse somatic hybrid cell lines were examined. The rat M1-muscarinic receptor was assigned to chromosome 1. 4. Based on analysis of the coding sequence of the gene, our data do not support the hypothesis that the M1-muscarinic receptor is a candidate gene for hypertension. We conclude that, pending analyses of the promoter and regulatory regions of the gene, differences in the M1-muscarinic receptor in SHR either in receptor expression or in physiological response must be due to altered intracellular signalling or extracellular transynaptic events, but not due to a mutation of the gene sequence.

Enhanced release of acetylcholine in the rostral ventrolateral medulla of spontaneously hypertensive rats

We examined whether the altered rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) cholinergic function in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) results from enhanced presynaptic cholinergic tone. Male 12- to 16-week-old SHR and age-matched Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were anesthetized, paralyzed and artificially ventilated. Unilateral microinjection of cholinergic agents into the RVLM produced a pressor response. The pressor response to physostigmine was greater in SHR than that of WKY whereas the response to ACh and carbachol was the same in WKY and SHR. Bilateral microinjection of scopolamine produced a decrease in blood pressure. The depressor response was greater in SHR than that of WKY. When a microdialysis probe was placed in the RVLM, ACh release in the RVLM was greater in SHR than that of WKY. Choline acetyltransferase (CAT) activity was increased only in the rostro-ventral part of the medulla, which contained the RVLM, but not in other parts of the medulla oblongata. Physostigmine (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced increases in ACh content were also enhanced only in the rostro-ventral part of the medulla. These results provide direct evidence that ACh release in the RVLM is enhanced in SHR. It appears that the enhanced cholinergic activity in the RVLM of SHR results from an increase in cholinergic impulse flow in the RVLM of SHR. This abnormality may play a role in the maintenance of hypertension in SHR.

Alterations in the expression of the genes encoding specific muscarinic receptor subtypes in the hypothalamus of spontaneously hypertensive rats

A significant body of evidence exists that is consistent with the possibility that heightened cholinergic activity in certain brain regions, such as the hypothalamus, leads to increased sympathetic tone and subsequent hypertension. The increase in cholinergic activity is mediated at least in part through enhanced sensitivity of muscarinic receptors. In this study, we used the technique of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to estimate the relative levels of mRNA encoding the five known subtypes of muscarinic receptors within the hypothalamus of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), a genetic model of the disease, and their normotensive counterparts (Wistar-Kyoto rats). SHR exhibited a significant increase (40% to 50%) in the excitatory M1 subtype (confirmed by receptor binding) and a decrease in the inhibitory M4 subtype of muscarinic receptors before and during the establishment of hypertension. Such alterations may form part of the genotypic profile of inherited hypertension.

Central muscarinic M2 cholinoceptors involved in cholinergic hypertension

Cholinomimetic agents increase blood pressure and heart rate via central muscarinic cholinoceptors in various species. It was reported that i.c.v. injection of the muscarinic M1 and M3 cholinoceptor selective antagonist, 4-DAMP (4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine methiodide), inhibited the pressor response to physostigmine, while the M1 selective antagonist, pirenzepine, was ineffective. In the present study, the involvement of muscarinic M2 cholinoceptors in central cholinergic hypertension and tachycardia was investigated. Physostigmine (10-80 micrograms/kg i.v.), a cholinesterase inhibitor, and oxotremorine (20-40 micrograms/kg i.v.), a direct muscarinic cholinoceptor agonist, caused a dose-dependent increase in blood pressure. Additionally, physostigmine induced dose-dependent tachycardiac responses. I.c.v. administration of the muscarinic M2 cholinoceptor antagonists, AF-DX 116 and methoctramine, inhibited both physostigmine (60 micrograms/kg) and oxotremorine (20 micrograms/kg)-induced pressor responses at their lower doses used in this study (100 nmol/rat and 10 nmol/rat, respectively). These findings indicate the partial involvement of postsynaptic muscarinic M2 cholinoceptors. The higher doses of the antagonists (AF-DX 116,300 nmol/rat and methoctramine 30 nmol/rat) potentiated the blood pressure increase due to physostigmine but did not affect that due to oxotremorine. The physostigmine-induced tachycardiac responses were influenced similarly by these antagonists. These results suggest the presence and tonic influence of presynaptic inhibitory muscarinic M2 cholinoceptors.