Prepro-neuropeptide Y mRNA and NPY binding sites in human inferior vagal ganglia

Nodose ganglia-modulatory effects on respiration

The key role of the vagus nerves in the reflex control of breathing is generally accepted. Cardiopulmonary vagal receptors and their afferent connection with the medullary respiratory centers secures the proper regulatory feedback. Section of the vagi at the midcervical level interrupts primary vagal reflexes and those due to activation of lung afferents by neuroactive substances. In this context the present review focuses on the reflex contribution of the inferior (nodose) vagal ganglia to the respiratory pattern, considering that this structure contains perikarya of vagal afferent neurons which house neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and neurochemical substances. In experimental animals with removed sensory input from the lungs (midcervical vagotomy) the following evidence was reported. Transient respiratory suppression in the form of apnoea, occurring after systemic injection of serotonin, adenosine triphosphate and anandamide (N-arachidonoyl-ethanolamine-endogenous cannabinoid neurotransmitter), which was abrogated by nodose ganglionectomy. Preserved nodose-NTS connection conditioned respiratory depression affecting the timing component of the breathing pattern evoked by N-6-cyclopentyl-adenosine (CPA) and inhibition of both respiratory constituents induced by NPY. Stimulatory effect of NPY13-36 on tidal volume required nodosal connection. The cardiovascular effects of majority of the tested substances occurred beyond the nodose ganglia (with exclusion of serotonin and anandamide).

Activation of neuropeptide Y(2) receptors exerts an excitatory action on cardio-respiratory variables in anaesthetized rats

The respiratory effects of stimulation of NPYY(2) receptors were studied in spontaneously breathing rats that were either (i) neurally intact and subsequently bilaterally vagotomized in the neck, or (ii) neurally intact and subjected to supranodosal vagotomy or (iii) neurally intact treated with pharmacological blockade of NPY(1-2) receptors. Before neural interventions an intravenous (iv) bolus of the NPYY(2) receptor agonist NPY 13-36 (10 μg/kg) increased breathing rate, tidal volume and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). Section of the midcervical vagi abrogated NPY 13-36-evoked increase in respiratory rate but had no effect on augmented tidal volume, minute ventilation and blood pressure. Supranodosal vagotomy prevented the increase in tidal volume and slightly reduced the pressor response. Blockade of NPYY(2) receptor with intravenous doses of BIIE 0246 eliminated cardio-respiratory effects of NPY 13-36 injection. BMS 193885 - an antagonist of NPYY(1) receptor-was not effective in abrogating cardio-respiratory response. The present study showed that (i) NPY 13-36 induced stimulation of breathing results from activation of NPYY(2) receptors associated with pulmonary vagal afferentation; (ii) the increase in the frequency of breathing is mediated by midcervical vagi and augmentation of tidal volume relies on the intact supranodosal trunks (iii) the pressor response results from the excitation of NPYY(2) receptors outside of the vagal pathway.

The versatility of the vagus

The gut is one of several organs contributing to the peripheral signalling network that controls food intake. Afferent neurons of the vagus nerve provide an important pathway for gut signals that act by triggering ascending pathways from the brain stem to hypothalamus. Recent work indicates the existence of mechanisms operating at the level of vagal afferent neurons to modulate the effect of gastrointestinal satiety signals. Thus, the well known satiety hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) not only stimulates the discharge of these neurons but also controls their expression of both G-protein coupled receptors and peptide neurotransmitters known to influence food intake. When plasma CCK concentrations are low e.g. in fasting, the expression by vagal afferent neurons of cannabinoid (CB)-1 and melanin concentrating hormone (MCH)-1 receptors is increased. Release of CCK by feeding leads to a rapid down-regulation of expression of both receptors and to increased expression of Y2 receptors. In fasting, there is also increased expression in these neurons of the appetite-stimulating neuropeptide transmitter MCH, and depressed expression of the satiety-peptide cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CARTp); endogenous CCK decreases MCH expression and stimulates CART expression. The gastric orexigenic hormone ghrelin blocks these actions of CCK at least in part by excluding phosphoCREB from the nucleus. The data suggest that CCK acts as a gatekeeper to determine the capacity of other neuroendocrine signals to act via vagal afferent neurons to influence food intake.

Vagus–brain communication in atherosclerosis-related inflammation: A neuroimmunomodulation perspective of CAD

The current understanding of the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis leading to coronary artery disease (CAD) emphasizes the role of inflammatory mediators. Given the bidirectional communication between the immune and central nervous systems, an important question is whether the brain can be "informed" about and modulate CAD-related inflammation. A candidate communicator and modulator is the vagus nerve. Until now, the vagus nerve has received attention in cardiology mainly due to its role in the parasympathetic cardiovascular response. However, the vagus nerve can also "inform" the brain about peripheral inflammation since its paraganglia have receptors for interleukin-1. Furthermore, its efferent branch has a local anti-inflammatory effect. These effects have not been considered in research on the vagus nerve in CAD or in vagus nerve stimulation trials in CAD. In addition, various behavioural interventions, including relaxation, may influence CAD prognosis by affecting vagal activity. Based on this converging evidence, we propose a neuroimmunomodulation approach to atherogenesis. In this model, the vagus nerve "informs" the brain about CAD-related cytokines; in turn, activation of the vagus (via vagus nerve stimulation, vagomimetic drugs or relaxation) induces an anti-inflammatory response that can slow down the chronic process of atherogenesis.

Endogenous neuropeptide Y depresses the afferent signaling of gastric acid challenge to the mouse brainstem via neuropeptide Y type Y2 and Y4 receptors

Vagal afferents signal gastric acid challenge to the nucleus tractus solitarii of the rat brainstem. This study investigated whether nucleus tractus solitarii neurons in the mouse also respond to gastric acid challenge and whether this chemonociceptive input is modified by neuropeptide Y acting via neuropeptide Y receptors of type Y2 or Y4. The gastric mucosa of female mice was exposed to different concentrations of HCl or saline, excitation of neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii visualized by c-Fos immunohistochemistry, gastric emptying deduced from the gastric volume recovery, and gastric lesion formation evaluated by planimetry. Relative to saline, intragastric HCl (0.15-0.35 M) increased the number of c-Fos-expressing cells in the nucleus tractus solitarii in a concentration-dependent manner, inhibited gastric emptying but failed to cause significant hemorrhagic injury in the stomach. Mice in which the Y2 or Y4 receptor gene had been deleted responded to gastric acid challenge with a significantly higher expression of c-Fos in the nucleus tractus solitarii, the increases amounting to 39 and 31%, respectively. The HCl-induced inhibition of gastric emptying was not altered by deletion of the Y2 or Y4 receptor gene. BIIE0246 ((S)-N2-[[1-[2-[4-[(R,S)-5,11-dihydro-6(6H)-oxodibenz[b,e] azepin-11-yl]-1-piperazinyl]-2-oxoethyl]cyclopentyl] acetyl]-N-[2-[1,2-dihydro-3,5 (4H)-dioxo-1,2-diphenyl-3H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl]ethyl]-argininamide; 0.03 mmol/kg s.c.), a Y2 receptor antagonist which does not cross the blood-brain barrier, did not modify the c-Fos response to gastric acid challenge. The Y2 receptor agonist peptide YY-(3-36) (0.1 mg/kg intraperitoneally) likewise failed to alter the gastric HCl-evoked expression of c-Fos in the nucleus tractus solitarii. BIIE0246, however, prevented the effect of peptide YY-(3-36) to inhibit gastric acid secretion as deduced from measurement of intragastric pH. The current data indicate that gastric challenge with acid concentrations that do not induce overt injury but inhibit gastric emptying is signaled to the mouse nucleus tractus solitarii. Endogenous neuropeptide Y acting via Y2 and Y4 receptors depresses the afferent input to the nucleus tractus solitarii by a presumably central site of action.

The distribution of nitric oxide synthase-, adenosine deaminase- and neuropeptide Y-immunoreactivity through the entire rat nucleus tractus solitarius: Effect of unilateral nodose ganglionectomy

The present study has employed immunocytochemistry on free-floating sections of adult rat medulla oblongata to characterise the distribution of nitric oxide synthase- (NOS), adenosine deaminase- (ADA) and neuropeptide Y- (NPY) immunoreactivity (IR) throughout the entire rostro-caudal axis of the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). In addition, unilateral nodose ganglionectomy was performed in a group of rats to determine whether any observed immunoreactivity was associated with central vagal afferent terminals. NOS-IR was found throughout the entire NTS, in cells, and both varicose and non-varicose fibres. Furthermore, unilateral nodose ganglionectomy resulted in a clear reduction in NOS-IR (visualised with diaminobenzidine) in a highly restricted portion of the ipsilateral medial NTS. Similarly, ADA- and NPY-containing cells, fibres and terminals were also found throughout the adult rat NTS. However, following unilateral nodose ganglionectomy, there was no apparent reduction in either ADA-IR or NPY-IR on the denervated side of the NTS. These data indicate a role for nitric oxide, purines and neuropeptide Y as neuromodulators within the rat NTS, although only nitric oxide appears to be primarily associated with vagal afferent input. Adenosine deaminase and neuropeptide Y-containing neurons appear to be predominantly postsynaptic to vagal input, although their possible association with vagal afferents cannot be completely excluded.