血管紧张素Ⅱ、心房钠尿肽Ⅲ和血管升压素对大鼠脑片室旁核神经元放电活动的影响

在28个脑片观察了血管紧张素Ⅱ(AGⅡ)、心房钠尿肽Ⅲ(ANPⅢ)和血管升压素(AVP)三种多肽对101个下丘脑室旁核(PVN)神经元单位电活动的影响。脑片灌流AGⅡ(10~(-7)mol/L,3 min)后,28/50个单位(56.0％)放电频率明显增加,5/50个单位(10.0％)放电频率降低,17/50个单位(34.0％)无明显反应。AGⅡ对PVN放电单位的兴奋和抑制作用均可为AGⅡ受体阻断剂saralasin(10~(-6)mol/L)所阻断。脑片灌流ANPⅢ(10~(-7)mol/L,3 min)后,16/26个单位(61.5％)放电频率明显降低,1/26个单位(3.9％)放电频率增加,9/26个单位(34.6％)无明显反应。脑片灌流AVP,(10~(-7)mol/L,3min)后,19/25个单位(76.0％)放电频率明显增加,1/25个单位(4.0％)放电频率降低,5/25个单位(20,0％)无明显反应。在观察这三种多肽对同一PVN神经元的作用时,4个单位对AGⅡ和AVP均产生兴奋反应;2个单位对AGⅡ呈兴奋和被ANPⅢ所抑制;7个单位对AVP呈兴奋,而对ANPⅢ为抑制,未见到既对AGⅡ和AVP呈兴奋,又为ANPⅢ所抑制的单位。结果提示:AGⅡ,ANP和AVP三种多肽都能影响PVN神经元的自发电活动,PVN可能是神经内分泌和植物性功能调节的中枢整合部位之一。     

电刺激与高渗盐水注入室旁核对血压的影响及其机制的初步探讨

本工作观察电刺激和微量高渗盐水注入室旁核(PVN)对蓝斑(LC)单位放电和血压的影响,以及阻断LC内精氨酸加压素(AVP)受体时PVN升压反应的变化,从而探讨PVN下行活动对LC单位放电的调制作用和LC在PVN调节血压过程中的地位。结果发现:(1)电刺激PVN使多数LC自发放电单位放电频率增高,并伴血压升高;(2)微量高渗盐水注入PVN也获得同样效果;(3)多数对电刺激PVN产生兴奋反应的LC单位,对高渗盐水注入PVN也表现为兴奋;(4)预先在LC注入AVP桔抗剂,可部分降低电刺激和高渗盐水注入PVN所引起的升压效应。上述结果提示:PVN调节血压的作用部分是通过PVN下行活动对LC功能影响实现的,PVN下行活动主要引起LC自发放电单位放电频率增加,并提示这一兴奋效应可能是由AVP介导的。     

大鼠下丘脑LHA-PVN nesfatin-1神经通路构成及对胃运动的影响

目的:阐述LHA和PVN间nesfatin-1神经通路的构成,探讨PVN nesfatin-1对胃收缩幅度及频率的影响及潜在机制。方法:采用荧光金逆行追踪结合荧光免疫组化技术,观察LHA-PVN间nesfatin-1神经通路构成;采用细胞外放电记录,观察nesfatin-1对GD放点活动的影响;通过在体胃运动技术,观察nesfatin-1对清醒自由活动大鼠胃收缩幅度和频率的影响。结果:Nesfatin-1能够抑制GD-E神经元放电(1.97±0.12 Hz vs.1.15±0.07 Hz)促进GD-I神经元放电(1.74±0.10 Hz vs.3.04±0.18 Hz),H4928能够部分阻断nesfatin-1对GD神经元(GD-E:1.38±0.08 Hz,P0.05 vs.nesfatin-1;GD-I:2.49±0.15 Hz,P0.05 vs.nesfatin-1)的影响;PVN内微量注射nesfatin-1能够抑制大鼠胃运动,呈量效依赖关系;LHA和PVN间有nesfatin-1神经纤维联系;电刺激LHA后,GD神经元放电频率增加(GD-E:2.06±0.12 Hz vs.4.23±0.21 Hz,GD-I:1.61±0.09 Hz vs.4.83±0.25 Hz),预先向PVN注射抗NUCB2/nesfatin-1抗体后,GD-E神经元放电频率减弱(4.91±0.25 Hz vs.4.23±0.21 Hz),而GD-I神经元放电频率增强(4.15±0.18 Hz vs.4.83±0.25)。结论:PVN内nesfatin-1可调控大鼠GD神经元放电活动及胃运动,该效应受LHA调控。     

清醒大鼠室旁核微量注射心房钠尿肽对压力感受性反射敏感性的影响

心房钠尿肽(atriaI natriuretic peptide,ANP)作为一种神经递质或调质可能参与心血管活动的中枢调节。本实验在清醒大鼠室旁核(paraventricular nucleus,PVN)注射ANP,探讨其对压力感受性反射敏感性的影响,并通过侧脑室注射血管升压素受体Ⅰ阻断剂OPC-21268,观察ANP对压力感受性反射敏感性的调节是否与中枢血管升压素有关。实验中观察到,在PVN内微量注射ANP(6、60 ng/0.2μl)可明显提高压力感受性反射敏感性(P<0.05),侧脑室预先注射OPC-21268 (0,45 μg/3 μl)后,ANP对压力感受性反射敏感性的增强作用明显减弱(P<0.05)。静脉注射ANP(60 ng/0.04 ml)不影响压力感受性反射敏感性。上述结果提示,心房钠尿肽对压力感受性反射活动起易化作用,心房钠尿肽的这种中枢作用可能部分通过中枢血管升压素介导。     

电刺激大鼠脚内核对脚桥核神经元放电的影响

目的:观察电刺激大鼠脚内核(EP)对大鼠脚桥核(PPN)神经元自发放电的影响,进一步探讨脑内电刺激治疗帕金森病(PD)的机制。方法:应用细胞外记录的方法观察不同频率电刺激(强度0.6 mA,波宽0.06 ms,时程5 s,频率5 Hz、10Hz、20Hz、50Hz、100Hz、150Hz、200Hz)大鼠EP对PPN神经元放电的影响。结果:实验记录了大鼠33个神经元的自发放电,其放电频率在3.6~52.2Hz之间,平均为(15.95±8.56)Hz;当刺激频率为100Hz时,抑制效应最显著(P<0.05)。结论:高频电刺激大鼠EP对PPN神经元自发放电的影响主要为抑制作用,提示高频刺激EP可通过抑制PPN神经元活动参与PD的治疗。     

皮层抑制对大鼠丘脑底核自发放电的影响

目的:观察皮层抑制对正常及帕金森病(PD)大鼠丘脑底核(STN)神经元自发放电的影响。方法:采用玻璃微电极细胞外记录法,观察正常和PD大鼠STN神经元的放电活动及脑内微量注射KCl后,两组大鼠STN神经元放电频率的变化。结果:对照组和PD组大鼠STN神经元放电频率分别为(9.78±0.71)Hz和(23.81±1.08)Hz,PD组大鼠放电频率显著高于对照组(P<0.01),且呈爆发式放电的神经元比例明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。皮层注射KCl后,经过较长的潜伏期,两组大鼠STN神经元放电频率均明显降低,后缓慢恢复。结论:PD大鼠STN神经元放电频率增高,爆发式放电增多,而抑制皮层可使这种异常放电得到改善,提示皮层兴奋性的改变可能是PD中STN活动增强的另一个诱因。     

5,7-双羟色胺损毁大鼠中缝背核后底丘脑核的神经活动增强

采用玻璃微电极在体细胞外记录法,观察了5,7-双羟色胺(5,7-dihydroxytryptamine,5,7-DHT)损毁大鼠中缝背核(dorsalraphenucleus,DRN)后,底丘脑核(subthalamicnucleus,STN)神经元电活动的变化。结果发现,对照组和DRN损毁组大鼠STN神经元的放电频率分别是(6.93±6.55)Hz和(11.27±9.31)Hz,DRN损毁组大鼠的放电频率显著高于对照组(P<0.01)。在对照组大鼠,13%的神经元呈现规则放电,46%为不规则放电,41%为爆发式放电;而在DRN损毁组大鼠,具有规则、不规则和爆发式放电的神经元比例分别为9%、14%和77%,爆发式放电的STN神经元比例明显高于对照组(P<0.01)。结果显示,DRN损毁后大鼠STN神经元的放电频率增高,爆发式放电增多,提示在正常大鼠DRN抑制STN神经元的活动。     

多巴胺D_2样受体直接调节正常及帕金森病模型大鼠苍白球神经元自发放电（英文）

苍白球是基底神经节间接环路的重要核团,在机体正常及病理状态下调节运动功能。前期研究工作显示苍白球接受来自黑质纹状体轴突侧支的多巴胺能纤维支配。苍白球表达多巴胺D1和D_2样受体。本研究旨在采用多管微电极细胞外电生理记录技术,探讨多巴胺D_2样受体对正常及帕金森病模型大鼠苍白球神经元自发放电的直接调控效应。结果显示,在正常大鼠上,微压力给予多巴胺D_2样受体激动剂quinpirole对苍白球神经元自发放电发挥不同的电生理效应。在所记录的61个苍白球神经元,quinpirole可使24个神经元的放电频率增加(62.7±11.2)%,而使另外16个神经元放电频率降低(37.5±2.9)%,联合给予D_2样受体阻断剂sulpride可阻断quinpirole对苍白球神经元自发放电的调控效应。在6-羟基多巴胺(6-hydroxydopamine,6-OHDA)帕金森病模型大鼠损毁侧所记录的47个苍白球神经元中,quinpirole可使其中25个神经元的放电频率增加(64.2±10.1)%,而使另外11个神经元放电频率降低(51.9±6.2)%。以上结果提示,多巴胺D_2样受体双向调节苍白球神经元的自发放电活动;在帕金森病状态下,多巴胺D_2样受体仍具有双向调节苍白球神经元兴奋性的效应。     

颈动脉注射肾上腺髓质素对去缓冲神经大鼠最后区神经元自发放电的影响

在63只切断两侧缓冲神经的麻醉sprague-Dawley大鼠,应用细胞外记录的电生理学方法,观察颈内动脉注射肾上腺髓质素(adrenomedullin,AM)对最后区(area postrema,AP)神经元自发电活动的影响。实验结果如下:(1)在记录到的78个自发放电单位中,颈内动脉内注射AM(0.3 nmol/kg),引起其中47个单位的自发放电频率由2.99±0.24增加到4.79±0.29 spikes/s(P<0.001),20个单位自发放电频率由3.24±0.46下降至1.97±0.37 spikes/s(P<0.001),另外11个单位自发放电频率无明显改变;平均动脉压和心率无明显变化。(2)颈内动脉注射降钙素基因相关肽受体阻断剂CGRP_(8-37)(3 nmol/kg)不能改变AM对自发放电的兴奋效应;(3)颈内动脉注射L-精氨酸(30 mg/kg)可减弱AM对自发放电的兴奋效应。以上结果提示,AM对最后区神经元有兴奋作用,此作用不是由降钙素基因相关肽受体介导,但可被NO前体L-精氨酸所减弱。     

大鼠尾核头部对中缝大核神经元单位活动的影响及其可能途径

用玻璃微电极细胞外记录大鼠中缝大核(NRM)神经元的单位放电。共记录277个细胞,NRM 神经元自发放电频率大都在每秒0.5—20次之间,平均为6.41 Hz。其中221个神经元被电刺激尾所激活,35个被抑制,21个无明显变化。NRM 神经元对躯体刺激的反应类型与自发放电的特征有关,兴奋型神经元的自发放电频率较低((?)=4.96Hz),而抑制性神经元的自发放电频率较高((?)=15.03 Hz)。在24例兴奋型神经元中,刺激尾核头部能够激活大多数 NRM 神经元的自发放电和抑制其伤害感受性反应。导水管周围灰质微量注射纳洛酮(2.5ug/0.5μl,n=15)。能够明显阻断刺激尾核头部激活 NRM 神经元自发放电和抑制伤害感受性反应的效应。     

侧脑室注射心房钠尿肽对大鼠室旁核单位放电...

We have applied microelectrode technique to record 118 spontaneously firing units from the hypothalamus in rats. Detection of the recording sites showed that 84 were in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and 34 were near the PVN (near-PVN). After intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP), 91% (P less than 0.005) of the PVN neurones and 71% (P greater than 0.05) of near-PVN neurones sensitive to ANP showed a significant decrease in spontaneously firing rate. After i.c.v. administration of hypertonic NaCl solution, 64.7% (P less than 0.005) of the PVN neurones and 61.1% (P greater than 0.05) of near-PVN neurones showed a significant increase in firing rate. The results indicate that i.c.v. administration of ANP profoundly inhibits the electrical activity of the PVN neurones, but hypertonic NaCl solution markedly stimulates the PVN neurones.     

Effect of central hypertonic stimulation on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide and oxytocin in conscious rats

The effect of the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of hypertonic sodium chloride on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and oxytocin (OT) was evaluated in conscious freely moving rats. A hypertonic or isotonic NaCl solution was injected into the third ventricle. Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored and blood samples were collected. I.c.v. injection of the hypertonic solution resulted in a significant increase in mean arterial pressure (105.3 +/- 2.9 mmHg at time 0 to 124.2 +/- 4.4 mmHg at 5 min, P less than 0.01) and heart rate (350.0 +/- 25.0 bpm at time 0 to 420.8 +/- 13.6 bpm at 20 min, P less than 0.01). Plasma OT increased 4-fold over the basal values 5 min after the injection (4.5 +/- 1.1 to 20.1 +/- 3.2 pg/ml, P less than 0.01), while there was no significant change in plasma ANP (37.3 +/- 9.1 to 46.6 +/- 12.6 pg/ml, n.s.). The control injection produced no significant changes in any parameters. These results show that hemodynamic changes are not necessarily associated with alterations in plasma ANP. Furthermore they suggest that central osmoreceptors are not involved in the control of ANP secretion.     

Differential effects of prostaglandin F2 alpha on oxytocinergic and non-oxytocinergic neurones in the paraventricular nucleus of the lactating rat

The effects of the prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) given into the third cerebral ventricle on the unit activity of neurosecretory neurones in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were studied in urethane-anesthetized rats. The firing activity of PVN neurones was recorded extracellularly and 50 neurones were antidromically identified as neurosecretory neurones. Thirty of them were classified oxytocinergic neurones because they gave a burst of action potential 12-15 sec before reflex milk ejection and the remaining twenty PVN neurones which showed no response prior to reflex milk ejections were regarded as non-oxytocinergic ones. Twenty-five (83%) of the30 oxytocinergic neurones increased in the firing rate following the intraventricular (IVT) injection of PGF2 alpha (500ng in 1 microliter of isotonic saline) and the responses lasted for about 20-30 min. The remaining 5 (17%) oxytocinergic neurones showed no response in the firing rate to IVT PGF2 alpha. Fifteen (75%) of the 20 nonoxytocinergic neurones decreased in the firing activity in response to IVT PGF2 alpha, and the remaining 5 (25%) of them showed no response. IVT injection of isotonic saline (1 microliter) did not affect the firing activity of both the oxytocinergic and nonoxytocinergic cells. The intramammary pressure was slightly increased by the IVT administration of PGF2 alpha. These findings indicate that IVT PGF2 alpha has a differential action on oxytocinergic and non-oxytocinergic neurones in rats.     

Effect of vasopressin and V1 receptors blockade on hypotensive action of ANP in normotensive (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The aim of the study was to find out whether vasopressin (AVP) modifies hypotensive and heart rate accelerating effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in normotensive (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) conscious rats. The effect of i.v. administration of 1; 2 and 4 micrograms of ANP on blood pressure (MP) and heart rate (HR) was compared during i.v. infusion of 0.9% NaCl (NaCl), NaCl+AVP (1.2 ng kg-1 min-1) and NaCl+dEt2AVP (V1 receptors antagonist, 0.5 microgram kg-1 min-1). AVP increased MP in SHR and WKY and decreased HR in SHR. V1 antagonist decreased MP and increased HR only in SHR. In SHR ANP decreased MP and increased HR during NaCl, AVP and V1 antagonist infusion. In WKY these effects were observed only during AVP administration. In each experimental situation hypotension and tachycardia induced by ANP were greater in SHR than in WKY. In both strains ANP induced changes in MP and HR were enhanced during AVP in comparison to NaCl infusion. V1 antagonist did not modify effects of ANP in WKY and SHR. The results indicate that ANP abolishes hypertensive response induced by blood AVP elevation and that the basal levels of endogenous vasopressin acting through V1 receptors does not interfere with hypotensive action of ANP neither in WKY nor in SHR.     

Atrial natriuretic peptide inhibits water and sodium intake in rabbits

The effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on water and sodium intake was investigated in wild rabbits, a species which does not drink water following i.c.v. or i.v. administration of angiotensin II but develops sodium appetite following i.c.v. infusion of angiotensin II. ANP was given during or after depletion of extracellular fluid volume: hemorrhage, fluid deprivation and administration of furosemide. Systemically administered ANP reduced the water, but not the sodium intake of wild rabbits. I.c.v. administration of ANP inhibited both water and sodium intake. The suppression of thirst following both i.v. and i.c.v. administration of ANP indicates that inhibition of the effect of angiotensin II is not the exclusive mechanism and the circumventricular organs are probably not the exclusive sites of action for ANP. The inhibition of sodium appetite in wild rabbits was consistent with earlier proposals that ANP acts through the inhibition of the effects of angiotensin II. Reduction of food intake coincident with administration of ANP was also noted, but dose-dependent decrease was not observed.     

Effects of various ion transport inhibitors on the water response in the superior laryngeal nerve in rats

The effects of inhibitors [acetazolamide, an inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase; amiloride, an inhibitor of the Na channel; furosemide, an inhibitor of the Na/K/2Cl transporter; 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), an inhibitor of the Cl channel] on the water response in the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) were investigated using whole nerve recordings from the SLN of anesthetized and paralyzed rats. Changes in spontaneous activity in the SLN after i.v. injection of a hypo- or hypertonic solution were also investigated. The water response to higher concentration amiloride solutions (0.1, 1, 5 and 10 mM) were significantly smaller in comparison with the control, i.e. the water response to deionized water (88-59% of the control, Fisher's PLSD, P < 0.05). DIDS suppressed the water response significantly at concentrations of 0.5 and 2 mM by 18 and 33%, respectively (P < 0.05). Likewise, acetazolamide (2 mM) and furosemide (5 mM) significantly suppressed the water response by 9 and 40%, respectively (P < 0.05). An i.v. bolus injection of a hypertonic solution (1 ml of 1.5 M NaCl or 1.0 M mannitol) depressed spontaneous activity of the SLN. In contrast, an i.v. injection of a hypotonic solution (0.015 M NaCl) increased spontaneous activity. These results suggest that several ion transporters and ion channels, as well as carbonic anhydrase, that may exist in the dorsal surface in the epiglottis may regulate the water response in the SLN and that osmotic changes in the dorsal surface of the epiglottis and in the interstitial space can affect nerve activity in the SLN.     

大鼠脑室注射高渗氯化钠和蔗糖诱导饮水行为和脑内c—fos的表达

用ＳＤ种系清醒大鼠,观察脑室注射高渗物质引起的饮水及ｃ－ｆｏｓ在脑内的表达部位。实验结果表明,脑室内微量注射１．５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ、３ｍｏｌ／Ｌ ＮａＣｌ或３ｍｏｌ／Ｌ蔗糖均可诱导饮水反应,并在前脑的终板血管器官、正中视前核和下丘脑视上核与室旁核中见到Ｆｏｓ样免疫反应阳性细胞,同样在后脑的最后区、臂旁外侧核与孤束核中也能见到Ｆｏｓ样免疫反应阳性细胞,同样在后脑的最后区、臂旁外侧核与孤束核中也能见到Ｆｏｓ     

兔室旁核对血量扩张引起促纳排泄与利尿的作用

在室旁核 (PVN)假损毁兔与PVN损毁兔血量扩张 (VE)引起尿流量增加 ,峰值分别为 0 5 9± 0 0 9与0 3 1± 0 0 3ml/min (P <0 0 1) ,排钠量增加峰值分别为 66 76± 6 74与 3 6 0 5± 3 4 4μmol/min (P <0 0 1) ,而在PVN假损毁兔与PVN完好兔对VE的反应无显著差别 (P >0 0 5 ) ,表明PVN损伤可明显减弱VE引起的促钠排泄与利尿效应。颈迷走神经切断并不能改变PVN损伤的上述作用。双侧肾神经切断兔损毁PVN对VE引起促钠排泄效应无显著影响 ,但显著减弱其利尿效应 (P <0 0 2 )。PVN损毁对VE时肾小球滤过率 (GFR)与肾血浆流量 (RPF)无显著影响。结果表明PVN参与VE通过迷走传入神经引起促钠排泄与利尿反应的调节 ,而肾交感传出神经参与其中促钠排泄的作用     

Intracerebroventricular infusion of hypertonic NaCl increases urinary CGMP in healthy and cirrhotic rats

Implication of serum atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and endothelin-1 (ET1) in the central nervous system (CNS)-induced natriuresis and hypertension respectively, was investigated in healthy and cirrhotic rats. Both healthy and nonascitic CCl(4)-induced cirrhotic rats under pentobarbital anesthesia received either normotonic (140 mmol/L) or hypertonic (320 mmol/L) NaCl artificial cerebrospinal fluid into the CNS lateral ventricle at a rate of 8.3 microl/min for 120 min. A sham operated group, but not centrally infused, served as matched control. Hypertonic NaCl solution significantly increased mean arterial pressure (MAP) similarly in both healthy (n = 5) ((MAP: 16 mm Hg, 13%) and cirrhotic rats (n = 6) ((MAP: 20 mm Hg, 15%) (ANOVA, p <.001) although the latter showed a slower increment. Under hypertonic NaCl infusion, natriuresis was also significantly increased in a similar manner in both healthy (U (Na) V: baseline: 0.38 +/- 0.22 micromol/min x 100 g; experiment: 2.36 +/- 0.90 micromol/min x 100 g; mean +/- SD) and cirrhotic rats (0.69 +/- 0.48 vs. 3.16 +/- 0.87; p <.001). By contrast, central hypertonic NaCl solutions did not show a significant modification of serum ANP in neither healthy (62 +/- 18 fmol/ml vs. 51 +/- 17 fmol/ml) nor cirrhotic rats (126 +/- 61 vs. 115 +/- 30). Likewise, ET-1 was not significantly modified under central hypertonic NaCl infusion in neither healthy (352 +/- 46 pg/ml vs. 344 +/- 39 pg/ml) nor cirrhotic rats (287 +/- 58 vs. 277 +/- 61). Despite no modification in serum ANP, there was a significant increment in urinary excretion of cGMP under central hypertonic NaCl infusions in bo th healthy (6.8 +/- 4.1 pmol/min x 100 g vs. 13.0 +/- 6.5 pmol/min x 100 g; p <.05) and cirrhotic rats (8.6 +/- 1.7 vs. 11.1 +/- 1.3; p <.05). Our data indicate the preservation of the mechanisms of central natriuresis in a model of non-ascitic CCl(4 )-induced cirrhosis in rats. An increment in urinary cGMP could potentially be implicated in the natriuretic response obtained by intracerebroventricular hypertonic NaCl stimulus in both healthy and cirrhotic rats. The lack of modification of serum ANP and ET-1 does not appear to support a systemic implication of these peptides in the natriuretic and hypertensive responses respectively induced by this manoeuvre.     

Participation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase on atrial natriuretic peptide plasma concentration during endotoxemic shock

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a hormone secreted in response to atrial or ventricular volume expansion and pressure overload, respectively. However, it has been found in studies with animals and patients an increase in ANP plasma concentration, during advanced septic shock, despite the fall in mean arterial pressure (MAP).

Several studies support the hypothesis that NO may be involved in the regulation of ANP release. Since NO may have an effect on ANP release, we hypothesized that NO pathway may participate in the control of the ANP release induced by the endotoxemic shock. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of the intravenous (i.v.) and intracereboventricular (i.c.v.) administration of aminoguanidine, an iNOS blocker, on plasma ANP levels and MAP during experimental endotoxemic shock.

Experiments were performed on adult male Wistar rats weighing 180–240 g. Rats were injected i.v. by bolus injection with 1.5 mg/kg of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or saline (0.5 mL) and were decapitated 2, 4 and 6 h after LPS injection for ANP determination by radioimmunoassay. In a separate set of experiments, rats received intravenous (i.v.) (100 mg/kg) or intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) (250 μg in a final volume of 2 μL) injection of aminoguanidine (AG). Thirty minutes after the i.c.v. or i.v. injections, animals received LPS and were decapitated 2, 4 and 6 h later to determine plasma ANP concentration. In the two set of experiments MAP and heart rate (HR) were measured each 15 min for a period of 6 h using a polygraph.

When animals were injected with LPS, a reduction (p < 0.01) in MPA and an increase in HR occurred. A significant increase in plasma ANP concentration occurred, coinciding with the period of drop in blood pressure.

We found a significant increase in plasma ANP concentration after AG plus LPS injection, when compared to the rats treated with LPS plus saline. Further, the administration of AG plus LPS attenuated the decrease in the MAP after LPS and attenuated the increase in the HR when compared to the rats treated with LPS plus saline.

Our study suggests that inducible NOS pathway may activate an inhibitory control mechanism that attenuates ANP secretion, which is not regulated by the changes in blood pressure.