Blockade of tachykinin NK3 receptor reverses hypertension through a dopaminergic mechanism in the ventral tegmental area of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Intracerebroventricularly injected tachykinin NK(3) receptor (R) antagonists normalize mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). This study was pursued to define the role played by NK(3)R located on dopamine neurones of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in the regulation of MAP in SHR.

Experimental approach

SHR (16 weeks) were implanted permanently with i.c.v. and/or VTA guide cannulae. Experiments were conducted 24 h after catheterization of the abdominal aorta to measure MAP and heart rate (HR) in freely behaving rats. Cardiovascular responses to i.c.v. or VTA-injected NK(3)R agonist (senktide) and antagonists (SB222200 and R-820) were measured before and after systemic administration of selective antagonists for D(1

SUBMITTER: De Brito Gariepy H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3010589 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature