延髓腹外侧头端区注射肾上腺髓质素对大鼠血压、心率和肾交感神经活动的影响

本研究在 3 4只麻醉Sprague Dawley大鼠观察了延髓腹外侧头端区内微量注射肾上腺髓质素 ( 10μmol/L ,2 0 0nl)对平均动脉压 (MAP)、心率 (HR)和肾交感神经放电 (RSNA)的影响。实验结果如下 :( 1)延髓腹外侧头端区内微量注射肾上腺髓质素可引起MAP、HR、和RSNA明显增加 ,分别由 99 0 9± 3 3 2mmHg ,3 70 78± 7 84bpm和 10 0± 0 %增至 113 5 7± 3 64mmHg (P <0 0 0 1) ,3 83 2 8± 7 3 8bpm (P <0 0 0 1)和 12 3 72±2 74% (P <0 0 0 1) ;( 2 )降钙素基因相关肽受体阻断剂CGRP8 3 7( 10 0 μmol/L ,2 0 0nl)不能阻断肾上腺髓质素的上述效应 ;( 3 )静脉注射NO前体L 精氨酸 ( 10 0mg/kg ,0 2ml)可消除肾上腺髓质素的上述效应。以上结果提示 ,肾上腺髓质素作用于延髓腹外侧头端区可产生显著的心血管作用 ,此作用不是由降钙素基因相关肽受体介导 ,但可被NO所阻断     

最后区微量注射辣椒素对大鼠血压、心率和肾交感神经放电的影响

在36只麻醉Sprague-Dawley大鼠, 观察了最后区内微量注射辣椒素(10 μmol/L, 50 nl)对平均动脉压(MAP)、心率(HR)和肾交感神经放电(RSNA)的影响.实验结果如下:(1)最后区内注射辣椒素可引起 MAP、HR 和RSNA明显增加, 分别由12.34±0.53 kPa、 328.52±7.54 bpm 和100±0% 增至15.17±0.25 kPa (P<0.001)、 354.81±8.54 bpm (P<0.001) 和156.95±7.57% (P<0.001);(2) 静脉注射辣椒素受体阻断剂钌红(100 mmol/L, 0.2 ml) 后, 辣椒素的上述效应可被明显抑制;(3) 预先应用NMDA 受体阻断剂MK-801 (500 μg/kg, 0.2 ml, iv)也明显抑制辣椒素的兴奋效应.以上结果提示, 最后区微量注射辣椒素对血压、心率和肾交感神经放电有兴奋作用, 而此作用由辣椒素受体介导并有谷氨酸参与.     

心室内注射腺苷对肾交感神经传出活动的影响

在切断两侧缓冲神经和迷走神经的麻醉大鼠,观察心室内注射腺苷及其同系物对肾交感神经传出活动的影响。心室内冲击注射腺昔（0．5μmol／kg,0．1ml）时,肾交感神经传出放电（RSNA）增加41．9±6．08％（P＜0．001）,并引起平均动脉血压（MAP）先短暂升高1．39±0．19kPS（P＜0．001）和随后下降3．74±0．64kPa（P＜0．001）,以及心率（HR）减慢95±14bpm（P＜0．001）。为了确定何种受体亚型介导腺苷所致RSNA增加,又分别应用了选择性腺昔A1受体激动剂[（-）-N6－（2－Phenylisopropyl）adenosine,R－PIA]和A2受体激动剂[5＇－（N－ethylcarboxamido）adenosine,NECA]。无论R－PIA（0．05μmol／kg,0．1ml）或NECA（0．05μmol／kg,0．1ml）均使MAP下降和HR减慢,且作用持续时间较腺苷的明显延长;R－PIA使RSNA增加31．6±5．21％（P＜0．001）,但NECA对RSNA无明显影响。选择性腺苷A1受体拮抗剂（8－cyclopentyl－1,3－dipropylxanthine,DPCPX）可完全抑制腺苷对RSNA的兴奋效应。切除双侧星状神经节后,腺苷兴奋RSNA的效应消失。以上结果提示,腺苷可通过A1受体激活心交感神经传入纤维,反射地增强肾交感神经的传出活动。     

N-亚硝基左旋精氨酸的心血管效应及其对肾交感神经活动的影响

在麻醉大鼠观察了新型NO合成抑制剂N-亚硝基左旋精氨酸(L-NNA)的血流动力学效应及其对肾交感神经活动的影响,旨在阐明NO在全身动脉血压调节中的可能作用及其作用机制。实验结果如下:(1)静注L-NNA(15 mg/kg)后,平均动脉压(MAP)由9.87±0.80升至14.67±0.53kPa(P<0.001),心率(HR)由317±13减至303±14 bpm(P<0.05),心指数(CI)由9.79±0.83降至7.04±0.41ml/min·100g~(-1)(P<0.05),总外周阻力指数(TPRI)由1.04±0.10升至2.15±0.18 u/100 g(P<0.001),持续30min以上;此效应可被预先注射左旋精氨酸(200 mg/kg)所逆转。(2)在缓冲神经切断的大鼠,i.v.L-NNA时,MAP,CI和TPRI的变化依然存在,而HR则加快,表明神经完整大鼠的HR减慢系压力感受器反射所致。(3)在缓冲神经完整大鼠i.v.L-NNA后,MAP升高,HR减慢,而肾交感神经活动(RSNA)无明显改变。(4)切断缓冲神经后,再i.v.L-NNA时,MAP,HR和RSNA分别增加55.6％、5.1％和34.3％,提示L-NNA可能兴奋交感中枢,而压力感受器反射可掩盖其对RSNA的影响;预先注射左旋精氨酸则可抑制L-NNA的上述效应。根据以上结果似可认为,NO合成抑制剂的血流动力学效应,由两种机制所介导:一是L-NNA抑制外周部位NO的基础性释放,致使血管紧张度增加,进而血压升高;另一是L-NNA兴奋交感中枢,从而引     

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在45只切断双侧缓冲神经的Sprague-Dawley 大鼠,应用细胞外记录方法, 观察了颈动脉内注射腺苷对76 个最后区 (AP) 神经元自发放电活动的影响。所得结果如下(1) 在记录到的42个自发放电单位中, 颈动脉内注射腺苷(25 μg/kg) 引起其中29个单位的放电频率由6.26±0.75 下降至4.74±0.76 spikes/s (P<0.01), 6 个单位放电频率由4.13±0.77增加至4.72±0.83 spikes/s (P<0.05),另外7个单位放电频率无明显变化, 而血压和心率在实验中无变化; (2)在应用非选择性腺苷受体拮抗剂8-苯茶碱(8-phenyltheophylline, 15 μg/kg) 的10个单位, 腺苷对放电的抑制效应可被完全阻断; (3) 应用选择性腺苷A     

颈动脉内注射腺苷对去缓冲神经大鼠最后区神经元放电的影响

在45只切断双侧缓冲神经的SpragueDawley大鼠,应用细胞外记录方法,观察了颈动脉内注射腺苷对76个最后区(AP)神经元自发放电活动的影响。所得结果如下:(1)在记录到的42个自发放电单位中,颈动脉内注射腺苷(25μg/kg)引起其中29个单位的放电频率由626±075下降至474±076spikes/s(P<001),6个单位放电频率由413±077增加至472±083spikes/s(P<005),另外7个单位放电频率无明显变化,而血压和心率在实验中无变化;(2)在应用非选择性腺苷受体拮抗剂8苯茶碱(8phenyltheophylline,15μg/kg)的10个单位,腺苷对放电的抑制效应可被完全阻断;(3)应用选择性腺苷A1受体拮抗剂8环戊1,3二丙基黄嘌呤(8cyclopentyl1,3dipropylxanthine,50μg/kg)亦可有效地阻断腺苷对12个单位的抑制效应;(4)应用ATP敏感性钾通道阻断剂格列苯脲(500μg/kg)的12个单位,腺苷的上述效应也被消除。以上结果提示,腺苷对AP区神经元自发放电有抑制作用,而此作用与A1受体介导的ATP敏感性钾通道开放有关。     

心房钠尿多肽对麻醉大鼠血压和肾神经传出放电的影响

本实验观察了心房肽Ⅱ(Atriopeptin Ⅱ,APⅡ)对麻醉大鼠血压(AP)、心率(HR)和肾交感神经传出放电(RSNA)的影响,并与硝普钠对 AP 和 RSNA 的影响作比较。结果如下:(1)缓冲神经完整和迷走神经完整条件下(n=12)静脉注射 APⅡ(50μg/kg)后,动脉收缩压(SAP)降低23.0±1.66 mmHg(Μ±SE,p<0.001),HR 减慢9±3.5b/min(p<0.05),RSNA 降低4.89±2.95%(P>0.05)。迷走神经切断后,静脉注射 APⅡ引起的~⊿SAP 虽有所减小,但与切断迷走神经前的反应比较,无统计学意义,HR 减慢不再出现,而 RSNA 则有所增加;(2)缓冲神经切断和迷走神经完整条件下(n=7),静脉注射 APⅡ时 SAP 降低27.4±3.25mmHg(P<0.001),HR 减慢13±3.1b/min(P<0.01),RSNA 降低11.67±1.95%(P<0.001)。切断迷走神经后,静脉注射 APⅡ引起的 SAP 降低程度有明显減小(P<0.01),HR减慢不再出现,RSNA 则反而增加(3)无论在迷走神经完整还是切断条件下,静脉注射硝普钠(n=6) SAP 均明显降低,同时伴有 RSNA 的反射性增加。以上结果表明:APⅡ的降压效应,部分是通过迷走神经传入纤维;在切断缓冲神经条件下,APⅡ可经由迷走神经传入纤维的激活而反射地抑制 RSNA。     

K_(ATP)通道开放剂对颈动脉窦压力感受器反射的易化作用

在 30只隔离灌流颈动脉窦区的麻醉大鼠 ,观察了KATP通道开放剂 (cromakalim ,Cro)对颈动脉窦压力感受器反射的影响。结果如下 :( 1)以Cro ( 10 μmol/L)隔离灌流大鼠左侧颈动脉窦区时 ,压力感受器机能曲线向左下方移位 ,曲线最大斜率 (PS)由 0 36± 0 0 1增至 0 48± 0 0 1kPa/kPa (P <0 0 0 1) ,反射性血压下降幅度 (RD)由 5 78± 0 14增至 7 87± 0 12kPa (P <0 0 0 1) ;阈压 (TP)、平衡压 (EP)和饱和压 (SP)则分别从 8 34± 0 35 ,12 71± 0 2 5和 2 4 89±0 2 5下降至 6 41± 0 0 9kPa,11 78± 0 2 4kPa ,2 2 5 6± 0 16kPa (P <0 0 1～ 0 0 0 1)。其中RD ,PS和TP的变化呈明显的剂量依赖性。 ( 2 )用KATP通道阻断剂格列苯脲 (glibenclamide,10 μmol/L)预处理后 ,Cro的上述反射效应即被阻断。( 3)先给予腺苷 (adenosine,12 5 μmol/L)则可以加强Cro对压力感受器反射的影响。以上结果表明 ,KATP通道开放剂Cro对大鼠颈动脉窦压力感受器反射有易化作用 ,此作用是由KATP通道开放剂引起窦壁扩张而牵张压力感受器所致     

心房钠尿肽的中枢性心血管和肾效应

在麻醉大鼠观察了颈动脉、脊髓蛛网膜下腔和侧脑室内注射心房钠尿肽(Atrial natri-uretic peptide,ANP)后,血压,心率或/和尿量、尿钠和尿钾的变化,并观察了 ANP 对血管紧张素Ⅱ(AGⅡ)中枢效应的影响。结果如下:(1)在大鼠头部交叉循环条件下,经受血鼠颈总动脉内注射α-人心房钠尿多肽(α-human atrial natriurctic polypeptide,α-hANP)(15μg/kg)后,受血鼠平均动脉压(MAP)无改变,而供血鼠的 MAP 降低,⊿MAP为-2.4±0.84kPa(-18±6.3mmHg,P<0.05),(2)脊髓蛛网膜下腔注射心房肽,Ⅱ(AtriopeptinⅡ,APⅡ)(5μg/kg)对血压、心率和尿量无明显影响;(3)侧脑室注射 APⅡ(20μg/kg)后血压和心率无显著改变,尿量仅在注射后第30至50min 时显著增加,而尿钠无改变;(4)侧脑室注射 AGⅡ(1μg/kg),血压升高,⊿MAP 为1.3±0.17kPa(10±1.3mmHg,n=10,P<0.001)。注射1h 后,尿量增加106%(P<0.01),尿钠增加642%(P<0.01);(5)事先侧脑室注射 APⅡ(20μg/kg),2min 后再注入 AGⅡ(1μg/kg),AGⅡ的中枢升压效应不受影响,⊿MAP为1.5±0.25kPa(11±1.9mmHg,n=7,P<0.01),而尿量和尿钠的增值明显减小。以上结果表明,ANP 难于透过血脑脑脊血屏障,可能与其分子量较大有关。在静脉注射 ANP 所致降压效应中,似无中枢机制的参与。ANP 对 AGⅡ     

心室内和心外膜应用腺苷对延髓PGL神经元电活动的影响

在35只切断两侧缓冲神经和迷走神经的麻醉大鼠,观察心室内注射腺苷和心外膜涂布腺苷对延髓腹外侧头端区PGL神经元自发电活动的影响。结果如下：（1）35只大鼠共记录到121个自发放电单位,平均放电频率为22．5±1．9spikes／s。（2）心室内冲击注射腺苷（0．5μmol/kg,0．1ml）时,BP先升（△1．7±0．2kPa,P＜0.001）后降（△4.6土0.5kPa,P＜0．001）,HR减慢（△126．5±12.3bpm,P＜0.001）;35个PGL神经元自发放电单位中,30个单位的放电频率由21．9士2．6增至29．2土3．4spikes／s（P＜0．001）,3个单位不变,2个单位减少。（3）心外膜涂布腺苷（20mmol/L）,动脉血压和心率的变化不明显,22个PGL神经元自发放电频率由18．8土1．9增至26．9土2．8spikes／s（P＜0．001）,3个单位的放电频率无变化。（4）静脉注射选择性腺苷A1受体拮抗8－cyclopentyl-1,3－dipropylxanthine（DPCPX,500μg／kg）可完全阻断腺苷对PGL神经元的兴奋效应。（5）在左右房室沟涂布85％酚或切除双侧星状神经节后,腺苷激活PGL神经元的效应即行消失。结果提示,腺苷可通过人受体激活心交感神经传入纤维,进而兴奋PGL神经元。     

最后区注射腺苷对大鼠血压,心率和肾交感神经放电影响

The effects of microinjection of adenosine (Ado) into area postrema (AP) on mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) were examined in 53 anesthetized Sprague Dawley rats. The results obtained are as follows. (1) Following microinjection of Ado (1 ng/60 nl) into AP, MAP, HR and RSNA were decreased from 13.76+/-0.46 kPa, 356.28+/-4.25 bpm and 100+/-0% to 11.23+/-0.49 kPa (P<0.001), 336.91+/-5.23 bpm (P<0.01) and 70.95+/-5.19% (P<0.001), respectively; (2) 8-phenyltheophylline (150 microgram/kg, 0.2 ml,iv), a nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist, and 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (500 microgram/kg, 0.2 ml, iv), a selective A(1) adenosine receptor antagonist, blocked the inhibitory effect of Ado completely; and (3) glibenclamide (5 mg/kg, 0.2 ml, iv), a blocker of ATP-sensitive potassium channel, also abolished the effect of Ado. The above results indicate that microinjection of Ado into AP induces inhibitory effects on MAP, HR and RSNA, which may be related to activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels mediated by A(1) receptors.     

颈动脉内注射腺苷对去缓冲神经大鼠最后区神圣凶放电影响

To observe the effect of intracarotid administration of adenosine on the electrical activity of area postrema (AP) neurons, 76 spontaneous active units were recorded from 45 sino-aortic denervated Sprague-Dawley rats using extracellular recording technique. The results obtained are as follows. (1) Following intracarotid administration of adenosine (Ado, 25 micrograms/kg), the discharge rate of 29 out of 42 units decreased markedly from 6.26 +/- 0.75 to 4.74 +/- 0.76 spikes/s (P < 0.01), whereas that of 6 units increased from 4.13 +/- 0.77 to 4.72 +/- 0.83 spikes/s (P < 0.05), and the other 7 showed no response. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were unaltered throughout the experiment. (2) 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT, 15 micrograms/kg), a nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist, completely blocked the inhibitory effect of Ado in 10 units. (3) Selective A1 adenosine receptor antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX, 50 micrograms/kg), blocked the effect of Ado in 12 units to a remarkable extent. (4) Glibenclamide (500 micrograms/kg), a blocker of ATP-sensitive potassium channel, abolished the effect of Ado in 12 units. The above results indicate that Ado can inhibit spontaneous electrical activity of AP neurons, which is mediated by adenosine A1-receptor with the involvement of ATP-sensitive potassium channels.     

颈动脉注射腺苷对去缓冲神经大鼠延髓腹外侧头端区神经元放电的影响

在28只切断双侧缓冲神经的Sprague－Dawley大鼠,应用细胞外记录方法,观察了72个自发放电单位中颈动脉注射腺苷对延髓腹外侧头端（RVLM）区神经元自发放电活动的影响。所得结果如下：（1）颈动脉注射腺苷（25μg/kg）,31个单位的放电频率由23．5±3．0下降至（16．5±2．6）spikes／s（P＜0．001）,血压和心率无明显变化（P＞0．05）;（2）在24个单位中,应用非选择性腺苷受体拮抗剂8-苯茶碱（8-phenyltheophylline,15μg/kg）和选择性腺苷A1受体持抗剂8-环戊-1,3-二丙基黄嘌呤（8－cyclopentyl-1,3－dipropylxanthine,50μg/kg）均可完全阻断腺苷的抑制效应;（3）在应用ATP敏感性钾通道阻断剂格列苯脲（500μg/kg）的12个单位中,腺苷的上述效应亦被消除。以上结果提示,腺苷对RVLM区神经元自发放电有抑制作用,而此作用与A1受体介导的ATP敏感性钾通道开放有关。     

Acute angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition evokes bradykinin-induced sympathetic activation in diabetic rats

We have previously shown that acute intravenous injection of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril in diabetic rats evokes a baroreflex-independent sympathoexcitatory effect that does not occur with angiotensin receptor blockade alone. As ACE inhibition also blocks bradykinin degradation, we sought to determine whether bradykinin mediated this effect. Experiments were performed in conscious male Sprague-Dawley rats, chronically instrumented to measure mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), 2 wk after streptozotocin (55 mg/kg iv, diabetic, n = 11) or citrate vehicle (normal, n = 10). Enalapril (2.5 mg/kg iv) decreased MAP in normal rats (-15 +/- 3 mmHg), while a smaller response (-4 +/- 1 mmHg) occurred in diabetic rats. Despite these different depressor responses to enalapril, HR (+44 +/- 8 vs. +26 +/- 7 bpm) and RSNA (+90 +/- 21 vs +71 +/- 8% baseline) increased similarly between the groups (P > or = 0.22 for both). Pretreatment with the bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist Hoe 140 (10 microg/kg bolus followed by 0.8.mug(-1)kg.min(-1) infusion) attenuated the decrease in MAP observed with enalapril in normal rats but had no effect in diabetic rats. Moreover, the normal group had smaller HR and RSNA responses (HR: +13 +/- 8 bpm; RSNA: +32 +/- 13% baseline) that were abolished in the diabetic group (HR: -4 +/- 5 bpm; RSNA: -5 +/- 9% baseline; P < 0.05 vs. preenalapril values). Additionally, bradykinin (20 microg/kg iv) evoked a larger, more prolonged sympathoexcitatory effect in diabetic compared with normal rats that was further potentiated after treatment with enalapril. We conclude that enhanced bradykinin signaling mediates the baroreflex-independent sympathoexcitatory effect of enalapril in diabetic rats.     

Differential role of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in modulating the sympathoexcitatory component of peripheral and central chemoreflexes

In the present study we investigated the involvement of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the modulation of sympathoexcitatory reflex activated by peripheral and central chemoreceptors. We measured mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), and phrenic nerve activity (PNA) before and after blocking neurotransmission within the PVN by bilateral microinjection of 2% lidocaine (100 nl) during specific stimulation of peripheral chemoreceptors by potassium cyanide (KCN, 75 microg/kg iv, bolus dose) or stimulation of central chemoreceptors with hypercapnia (10% CO(2)). Typically stimulation of peripheral chemoreceptors evoked a reflex response characterized by an increase in MAP, RSNA, and PNA and a decrease in HR. Bilateral microinjection of 2% lidocaine into the PVN had no effect on basal sympathetic and cardiorespiratory variables; however, the RSNA and PNA responses evoked by peripheral chemoreceptor stimulation were attenuated (P < 0.05). Bilateral microinjection of bicuculline (50 pmol/50 nl, n = 5) into the PVN augmented the RSNA and PNA response to peripheral chemoreceptor stimulation (P < 0.05). Conversely, the GABA agonist muscimol (0.2 nmol/50 nl, n = 5) injected into the PVN attenuated these reflex responses (P < 0.05). Blocking neurotransmission within the PVN had no effect on the hypercapnia-induced central chemoreflex responses in carotid body denervated animals. These results suggest a selective role of the PVN in processing the sympathoexcitatory and ventilatory component of the peripheral, but not central, chemoreflex.     

腺苷抑制海马神经元自发放电和谷氨酸所致癫痫样放电

应用细胞外记录单位放电技术,在大鼠海马脑片上观察腺苷（ａｄｃｎｏｓｉｎｅ,Ａｄｏ）对ＣＡ１区神经元自发和谷氨酸所致癫痫样放电的影响。实验结果如下：⑴２０个海刀ＣＡ１神经元在给予Ａｄｏ（０．０１－０．１μｍｏｌ／Ｌ）时自发放电频率降低,且呈明显的剂量依赖性;⑵在２２个ＣＡ１单位,应用腺苷受体非选择性拮抗剂８－苯茶碱（８－ｐｈｅｎｙｌ－ｔｈｅｏｐｈｙｌｌｉｎｅ,８－ＰＴ,０．５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）和腺苷Ａ１     

Nitric oxide modulation of glutamatergic, baroreflex, and cardiopulmonary transmission in the nucleus of the solitary tract

The neuromodulatory effect of NO on glutamatergic transmission has been studied in several brain areas. Our previous single-cell studies suggested that NO facilitates glutamatergic transmission in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). In this study, we examined the effect of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on glutamatergic and reflex transmission in the NTS. We measured mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) from Inactin-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. Bilateral microinjections of L-NAME (10 nmol/100 nl) into the NTS did not cause significant changes in basal MAP, HR, or RSNA. Unilateral microinjection of (RS)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA, 1 pmol/100 nl) into the NTS decreased MAP and RSNA. Fifteen minutes after L-NAME microinjections, AMPA-evoked cardiovascular changes were significantly reduced. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA, 0.5 pmol/100 nl) microinjection into the NTS decreased MAP, HR, and RSNA. NMDA-evoked falls in MAP, HR, and RSNA were significantly reduced 30 min after L-NAME. To examine baroreceptor and cardiopulmonary reflex function, L-NAME was microinjected at multiple sites within the rostro-caudal extent of the NTS. Baroreflex function was tested with phenylephrine (PE, 25 microg iv) before and after L-NAME. Five minutes after L-NAME the decrease in RSNA caused by PE was significantly reduced. To examine cardiopulmonary reflex function, phenylbiguanide (PBG, 8 microg/kg) was injected into the right atrium. PBG-evoked hypotension, bradycardia, and RSNA reduction were significantly attenuated 5 min after L-NAME. Our results indicate that inhibition of NOS within the NTS attenuates baro- and cardiopulmonary reflexes, suggesting that NO plays a physiologically significant neuromodulatory role in cardiovascular regulation.