Effects of neuropeptide Y on mean circulatory filling pressure in intact and ganglionic-blocked conscious rats

Hemodynamic consequences of neuropeptide Y-induced obesity

BACKGROUND

Acute central nervous system administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY) elicits variable hemodynamic responses. Chronic intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of NPY produces obesity in rats. Obesity has been shown to increase arterial pressure.

METHODS

In this study we examined the chronic hemodynamic effects of NPY-induced obesity. Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with radiotelemetry transmitters to continuously record heart rate and arterial pressure in the conscious state. Neuropeptide Y or vehicle was delivered into the third cerebral ventricle by osmotic minipumps over 2 weeks. Three groups were studied: vehicle, NPY-treated (free-fed), and NPY-treated (pair-fed to vehicle-treated rats).

RESULTS

Neuropeptide Y increased food intake and body weight in free-fed animals, and substantially augmented visceral adiposity in both free- and pair-fed rats. Despite increased adiposity, chronic ICV administration of NPY in conscious unstressed rats did not increase arterial pressure. Neuropeptide Y decreased heart rate, suggesting a sympathoinhibitory effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Obesity induced by 2-week ICV administration of NPY does not increase arterial pressure, perhaps indicating inhibition of sympathetic outflow that may oppose the pressor effect of adiposity.

Hemodynamic profile of neuropeptide Y in dogs: effect of ganglionic blockade

The hemodynamic effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) were examined over a dose range of 0.03-30 nmol/kg, i.v., in anesthetized open-chest, ventilated dogs with and without ganglionic blockade. In normal (non-ganglion-blocked) animals, NPY produced significant, dose-dependent, and sustained (lasting 15-45 min) increases in mean arterial blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) with a threshold dose of 0.3 nmol/kg and a maximum effective dose of 10 nmol/kg. Cardiac index (CI) decreased at doses > 1 nmol/kg, but stroke volume was not altered; heart rate (HR) decreased significantly at and above the 3 nmol/kg dose. No significant changes were observed in the left ventricular dP/dt (LVdP/dt) or the contractility index (LVdP/dt divided by systolic pressure). In ganglion-blocked animals, pressor and SVR responses to NPY were similar to those seen in normal animals but HR was not affected and a small but significant decrease in CI was seen only at the 30 nmol/kg. Furthermore, whereas LVdP/dt of ganglion-blocked dogs increased significantly at and above the 1 nmol/kg dose, the contractility index increased slightly only with the 10 and 30 nmol/kg doses. These data indicate that NPY produces sustained hypertension in dogs secondary to peripheral vasoconstriction, has a weak, direct positive inotropic action on the heart, and lacks chronotropic effects.