Buccafusco_1979_Brain.Res_165_295

Reference

Title : Pharmacological study of a cholinergic mechanism within the rat posterior hypothalamic nucleus which mediates a hypertensive response - Buccafusco_1979_Brain.Res_165_295
Author(s) : Buccafusco JJ , Brezenoff HE
Ref : Brain Research , 165 :295 , 1979
Abstract :

In unanesthetized freely moving rats, microinjection of a variety of cholinergic agonists into the posterior hypothalamic nucleus (PHN) consistently produced an elevation in mean arterial pressure (MAP). Experiments were undertaken to pharmacologically characterize this cholinergic mechanism. Microinjection of carbachol (0.1--100 nmol) into the PHN elicited reproducible and dose-related increase in MAP (17--47 mm Hg) and variable changes in heart rate. Similar responses, although longer in onset and duration, were produced by microinjection of the cholinesterase inhibitors, neostigmine, physostigmine and echothiophate. The pressor responses produced by neostigmine and physostigmine, but not by carbachol, were shown to be dependent upon intact stores of acetylcholine in the PHN. Blockade of postsynaptic muscarinic receptors by prior microinjection of atropine abolished the rise in MAP to subsequent injection of cholinergic agonists; however, similar pretreatment with the antinicotinic agent, mecamylamine, was without effect. The peripheral mechanism through which a rise in MAP was produced by cholinergic stimulation of PHN was the sympathetic nervous system since i.v. injection of an alpha-adrenergic blocking agent, phentolamine, attenuated the pressor response to intrahypothalamic injection of carbachol or neostigmine. Adrenal catecholamine release or vasopressin release were not important mechanisms in this regard. From this study we conclude that within the rat PHN there exists a muscarinic, cholinergic mechanism which, upon activation, mediates a rise in MAP through an increase in sympathetic tone.

PubMedSearch : Buccafusco_1979_Brain.Res_165_295
PubMedID: 421141

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Citations formats

Buccafusco JJ, Brezenoff HE (1979)
Pharmacological study of a cholinergic mechanism within the rat posterior hypothalamic nucleus which mediates a hypertensive response
Brain Research 165 :295

Buccafusco JJ, Brezenoff HE (1979)
Brain Research 165 :295