Impaired hypotensive effects of centrally acting oxytocin in SHR and WKY rats exposed to chronic mild stress

Effects of physical training on hypothalamic neuronal activation and expressions of vasopressin and oxytocin in SHR after running until fatigue

To assess the influence of physical training on neuronal activation and hypothalamic expression of vasopressin and oxytocin in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), untrained and trained normotensive rats and SHR were submitted to running until fatigue while internal body and tail temperatures were recorded. Hypothalamic c-Fos expression was evaluated in thermoregulatory centers such as the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO), medial preoptic nucleus (mPOA), paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), and supraoptic nucleus (SON). The PVN and the SON were also investigated for vasopressin and oxytocin expressions. Although exercise training improved the workload performed by the animals, it was reduced in SHR and followed by increased internal body temperature due to tail vasodilation deficit. Physical training enhanced c-Fos expression in the MnPO, mPOA, and PVN of both strains, and these responses were attenuated in SHR. Vasopressin immunoreactivity in the PVN was also increased by physical training to a lesser extent in SHR. The already-reduced oxytocin expression in the PVN of SHR was increased in response to physical training. Within the SON, neuronal activation and the expressions of vasopressin and oxytocin were reduced by hypertension and unaffected by physical training. The data indicate that physical training counterbalances in part the negative effect of hypertension on hypothalamic neuronal activation elicited by exercise, as well as on the expression of vasopressin and oxytocin. These hypertension features seem to negatively influence the workload performed by SHR due to the hyperthermia derived from the inability of physical training to improve heat dissipation through skin vasodilation.

The Heart as a Target of Vasopressin and Other Cardiovascular Peptides in Health and Cardiovascular Diseases

The automatism of cardiac pacemaker cells, which is tuned, is regulated by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and multiple endocrine and paracrine factors, including cardiovascular peptides. The cardiovascular peptides (CPs) form a group of essential paracrine factors affecting the function of the heart and vessels. They may also be produced in other organs and penetrate to the heart via systemic circulation. The present review draws attention to the role of vasopressin (AVP) and some other cardiovascular peptides (angiotensins, oxytocin, cytokines) in the regulation of the cardiovascular system in health and cardiovascular diseases, especially in post-infarct heart failure, hypertension and cerebrovascular strokes. Vasopressin is synthesized mostly by the neuroendocrine cells of the hypothalamus. There is also evidence that it may be produced in the heart and lungs. The secretion of AVP and other CPs is markedly influenced by changes in blood volume and pressure, as well as by other disturbances, frequently occurring in cardiovascular diseases (hypoxia, pain, stress, inflammation). Myocardial infarction, hypertension and cardiovascular shock are associated with an increased secretion of AVP and altered responsiveness of the cardiovascular system to its action. The majority of experimental studies show that the administration of vasopressin during ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest improves resuscitation, however, the clinical studies do not present consisting results. Vasopressin cooperates with the autonomic nervous system (ANS), angiotensins, oxytocin and cytokines in the regulation of the cardiovascular system and its interaction with these regulators is altered during heart failure and hypertension. It is likely that the differences in interactions of AVP with ANS and other CPs have a significant impact on the responsiveness of the cardiovascular system to vasopressin in specific cardiovascular disorders.

Oxytocin-induced endothelial nitric oxide dependent vasorelaxation and ERK1/2-mediated vasoconstriction in the rat aorta

Oxytocin is a neuropeptide produced primarily in the hypothalamus and plays an important role in the regulation of mammalian birth and lactation. It has been shown that oxytocin has important cardiovascular protective effects. Here we investigated the effects of oxytocin on vascular reactivity and underlying the mechanisms in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro and in rat aorta ex vivo. Oxytocin increased phospho-eNOS (Ser 1177) and phospho-Akt (Ser 473) expression in HUVECs in vitro and the aorta of rat ex vivo. Wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), inhibited oxytocin-induced Akt and eNOS phosphorylation. In the rat aortic rings, oxytocin induced a biphasic vascular reactivity: oxytocin at low dose (10^-9–10^-8 M) initiated a vasorelaxation followed by a vasoconstriction at high dose (10^-7 M). L-NAME (a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), endothelium removal or wortmannin abolished oxytocin-induced vasorelaxation, and slightly enhanced oxytocin-induced vasoconstriction. Atosiban, an oxytocin/vasopressin 1a receptor inhibitor, totally blocked oxytocin-induced relaxation and vasoconstriction. PD98059 (ERK1/2 inhibitor) partially inhibited oxytocin-induced vasoconstriction. Oxytocin also increased aortic phospho-ERK1/2 expression, which was reduced by either atosiban or PD98059, suggesting that oxytocin-induced vasoconstriction was partially mediated by oxytocin/V1aR activation of ERK1/2. The present study demonstrates that oxytocin can activate different signaling pathways to cause vasorelaxation or vasoconstriction. Oxytocin stimulation of PI3K/eNOS-derived nitric oxide may participate in maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis, and different vascular reactivities to low or high dose of oxytocin suggest that oxytocin may have different regulatory effects on vascular tone under physiological or pathophysiological conditions.

Multiple Aspects of Inappropriate Action of Renin-Angiotensin, Vasopressin, and Oxytocin Systems in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases

The cardiovascular system and the central nervous system (CNS) closely cooperate in the regulation of primary vital functions. The autonomic nervous system and several compounds known as cardiovascular factors, especially those targeting the renin–angiotensin system (RAS), the vasopressin system (VPS), and the oxytocin system (OTS), are also efficient modulators of several other processes in the CNS. The components of the RAS, VPS, and OTS, regulating pain, emotions, learning, memory, and other cognitive processes, are present in the neurons, glial cells, and blood vessels of the CNS. Increasing evidence shows that the combined function of the RAS, VPS, and OTS is altered in neuropsychiatric/neurodegenerative diseases, and in particular in patients with depression, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, autism, and schizophrenia. The altered function of the RAS may also contribute to CNS disorders in COVID-19. In this review, we present evidence that there are multiple causes for altered combined function of the RAS, VPS, and OTS in psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, such as genetic predispositions and the engagement of the RAS, VAS, and OTS in the processes underlying emotions, memory, and cognition. The neuroactive pharmaceuticals interfering with the synthesis or the action of angiotensins, vasopressin, and oxytocin can improve or worsen the effectiveness of treatment for neuropsychiatric/neurodegenerative diseases. Better knowledge of the multiple actions of the RAS, VPS, and OTS may facilitate programming the most efficient treatment for patients suffering from the comorbidity of neuropsychiatric/neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.

Complementary Role of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in Cardiovascular Regulation

The neurons secreting oxytocin (OXY) and vasopressin (AVP) are located mainly in the supraoptic, paraventricular, and suprachiasmatic nucleus of the brain. Oxytocinergic and vasopressinergic projections reach several regions of the brain and the spinal cord. Both peptides are released from axons, soma, and dendrites and modulate the excitability of other neuroregulatory pathways. The synthesis and action of OXY and AVP in the peripheral organs (eye, heart, gastrointestinal system) is being investigated. The secretion of OXY and AVP is influenced by changes in body fluid osmolality, blood volume, blood pressure, hypoxia, and stress. Vasopressin interacts with three subtypes of receptors: V1aR, V1bR, and V2R whereas oxytocin activates its own OXTR and V1aR receptors. AVP and OXY receptors are present in several regions of the brain (cortex, hypothalamus, pons, medulla, and cerebellum) and in the peripheral organs (heart, lungs, carotid bodies, kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, ovaries, uterus, thymus). Hypertension, myocardial infarction, and coexisting factors, such as pain and stress, have a significant impact on the secretion of oxytocin and vasopressin and on the expression of their receptors. The inappropriate regulation of oxytocin and vasopressin secretion during ischemia, hypoxia/hypercapnia, inflammation, pain, and stress may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases.

Effect of iron oxide nanoparticles on vascular function and nitric oxide production in acute stress-exposed rats

We investigated whether polyethylene glycol-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (IONs), acute stress and their combination modifies vascular functions, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, mean arterial pressure (MAP) as well as hepcidin and ferritin H gene expressions in Wistar-Kyoto rats. Rats were divided into control, ION-treated rats (1 mg Fe/kg i.v.), repeated acute air-jet stress-exposed rats and IONs-and-stress co-exposed rats. Maximal acetylcholine (ACh)-induced and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced relaxations in the femoral arteries did not differ among the groups. IONs alone significantly elevated the N?-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-sensitive component of ACh-induced relaxation and reduced the sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle cells to SNP. IONs alone also elevated NOS activity in the brainstem and hypothalamus, reduced NOS activity in the kidneys and had no effect in the liver. Acute stress alone failed to affect vascular function and NOS activities in all the tissues investigated but it elevated ferritin H expression in the liver. In the ION-and-stress group, NOS activity was elevated in the kidneys and liver, but reduced in the brainstem and hypothalamus vs. IONs alone. IONs also accentuated air-jet stress-induced MAP responses vs. stress alone. Interestingly, stress reduced ION-originated iron content in blood and liver while it was elevated in the kidneys. In conclusion, the results showed that 1) acute administration of IONs altered vascular function, increased L-NAME-sensitive component of ACh-induced relaxation and had tissue-dependent effects on NOS activity, 2) ION effects were considerably reduced by co-exposure to repeated acute stress, likely related to decrease of ION-originated iron in blood due to elevated decomposition and/or excretion.