Tatsuya Ichida

Pressor Response to Compression of the Ventrolateral Medulla Mediated by Glutamate Receptors

The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) is considered a major center for the regulation of sympathetic and cardiovascular activities. Several clinical studies have indicated a possible causal relationship between neurovascular contact of the left RVLM and essential hypertension, and some investigators have suggested that the left RVLM is more sensitive to pulsatile compression than the right RVLM. Previously, we reported that pulsatile compression of the RVLM elevates arterial pressure by enhancing sympathetic outflow in rats; however, we have not investigated the laterality of the responses to the compression. In addition, it remains to be elucidated whether RVLM neurons are activated by compression and, if so, how they are activated. Therefore, we performed compression experiments in rats to investigate these issues. Pulsatile compression was performed on the unilateral RVLM with a pulsating probe in anesthetized and artificially ventilated rats. Pulsatile compression of the unilateral RVLM increased arterial pressure, heart rate, and sympathetic nerve activity. The pressor response to compression was inhibited significantly after local microinjection of glutamate receptor antagonists. Pulsatile compression of the RVLM increased Fos immunoreactivitiy, a marker of neuronal activation, within the nuclei of postsynaptic RVLM neurons. All results were observed symmetrically. The data indicate that the responses to pulsatile compression of the unilateral RVLM are similar on both sides. They also suggest that pulsatile compression of the RVLM increases sympathetic and cardiovascular activities by activating postsynaptic RVLM neurons through the stimulation of the local glutamate receptors in rats.

GABAb-ergic stimulation in hypothalamic pressor area induces larger sympathetic and cardiovascular depression in spontaneously hypertensive rats

To determine whether central GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) B receptor stimulation would affect the sympathetic and cardiovascular activities, baclofen (a GABAB receptor agonist) was injected into lateral cerebral ventricles (intracerebroventricularly, ICV) in urethane-anesthetized normotensive rats. Intracerebroventricular injections of GABAA agonist (muscimol, 1 microgram) consistently decreased blood pressure and heart rate. In contrast ICV injections of baclofen (2 micrograms) increased blood pressure (BP) and heart rate with initial transient cardiovascular depression, and these effects of baclofen were abolished by ICV pretreatment with GABAB antagonist (saclofen, 100 micrograms). To determine whether the cardiovascular effects of ICV injections were elicited by activating GABA receptors in the hypothalamus, we injected baclofen or muscimol directly into various hypothalamic areas. Baclofen (100 and 800 ng) injected into the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) or posterior hypothalamus (PH) of normotensive rats produced dose-related decreases in sympathetic nerve activity, blood pressure, and heart rate. These effects of baclofen were larger in VMH injections than in PH injections. The depressor responses elicited by VMH injections of baclofen were abolished by intravenous pretreatment with alpha-blocker, but unaffected by parasympathetic blocker, further indicating that the depressor responses of baclofen (VMH) were not due to parasympathetic activation, but due to peripheral sympathetic depression. Muscimol (400 ng) and baclofen (800 ng) injected into VMH produced similar amplitude of sympathetic-depressant, depressor and bradycardic responses. In contrast, BP was increased by the same dose of baclofen injected into the hypothalamic depressor area (anterior hypothalamus, AH), but was unaffected by muscimol. Final experiments were performed to determine whether these sympathetic and cardiovascular effects to hypothalamic GABAB stimulations would be altered in hypertension. In spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), basal BP and heart rate were already higher than in normotensive controls (Wistar-Kyoto rat, WKY). Baclofen injected into VMH reduced sympathetic nerve activity, BP, and heart rate in both groups of rats, and these effects were significantly larger in SHR than in WKY. This enhanced depressor response induced by baclofen (VMH) in SHR persisted even after sinoaortic denervation, which indicates that the enhanced depressor response is not due to reduced peripheral baroreflex sensitivity in SHR. On the other hand, baclofen injected into AH increased BP and heart rate in both WKY and SHR, but the magnitude of these responses did not differ between two groups. In summary, GABA reduces sympathetic nerve activity, BP, and heart rate through both GABAA and B receptors in VMH. The GABAB system acts on the depressor area, AH, to further regulate the cardiovascular activities. In SHR, the GABAB-ergic system in VMH but not in AH is altered, and this might contribute to the development of hypertension.

Age-related development of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)B receptor functions in various brain regions of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The age-related development of GABABreceptors and their coupling to adenylate cyclase were studied in the brains of spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Compared with WKY rats, the specific [3H]GABA binding to GABABreceptors showed a significant decrease not only in the posterior hypothalamus, midbrain, hippocampus and striatum of eleven-week-old SHR, which maintain a hypertensive state, but also in the posterior hypothalamus of four-week-old normotensive SHR. Similarly, the GABABreceptor agonists (baclofen and DN-2327)-induced suppression of adenylate cyclase activity showed a decrease in the posterior hypothalamus of four-week-old SHR as well as in the posterior hypothalamus and striatum of eleven-week-old SHR. These results suggest that the functions of the GABABreceptor in the brain of SHR may be decreased independently from the occurrence of blood pressure elevation and that such changes may even be involved in the pathogenesis of SHR.

Effects of thyroxine and its related compounds on cerebral gaba receptors: Inhibitory action of benzodiazepine recognition site in GABAA receptor complex

The effects of thyroxine and its related derivatives on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the rat brain were examined. D-Thyroxine strongly inhibited [3H]flunitrazepam binding to benzodiazepine receptor in crude synaptic membrane from the rat brain. The Scatchard analysis of the [3H]flunitrazepam binding in the presence of D-thyroxine indicated the decreases in the affinity and maximum number of binding site. Furthermore, D-thyroxine inhibited the enhancing effect of flunitrazepam on GABA-stimulated 36Cl- influx into membrane vesicles, although GABA-stimulated 36Cl- influx alone was not affected by D-thyroxine. On the other hand, the effects of thyroxine and its related derivatives on cerebral GABAB receptor binding were not noted. These results suggest that D-thyroxine may be a drug which is able to modulate the function of GABAA receptor complex via the inhibitory action on benzodiazepine recognition site.

FUNCTIONAL ALTERATION OF THE GABAB RECEPTOR IN THE BRAIN OF SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

1. We studied the ontogenetic development of GABAB receptors and their coupling to cyclic AMP formation in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive Wistar‐Kyoto (WKY) rat brains. GABAB receptor binding to various brain regions was compared in age‐matched SHR and WKY rats.

Association and agonistic action of DN-2327, a novel isoindoline derivative, on GABAB receptor in brain

The association and action of DN-2327, 2-(7-chloro-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)-3-[(1,4-dioxa-8- azaspiro[4,5]dec-8-yl)carbonylmethyl]isoindolin-1-one, on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)B receptor in rat brain have been examined. DN-2327 inhibited the binding of [3H]GABA to GABAB receptor in crude synaptic membrane obtained from rat brain. The Scatchard analysis of [3H]GABA binding to GABAB receptor indicated that DN-2327 induced the decrease in affinity of both high and low affinity binding sites without changing the Bmax values. The forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in slices from rat cerebral cortex was significantly suppressed by the addition of DN-2327. Furthermore, this inhibition by DN-2327 was eliminated by the simultaneous additions of 2-hydroxy saclofen or CGP 55845A, GABAB receptor antagonists. These results suggest that DN-2327 may have not only a high association with GABAB receptor but also an agonistic action on the receptor.

Cerebral GABAB receptor: proposed mechanisms of action and purification procedures.

The GABAB receptor in brain is one of the GABA receptor subtypes, and has been found to be negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase and phosphatidylinositide turnover. This receptor easily solubilizes from cerebral synaptic membrane preparations by 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) in the presence of asolectin. GABAB receptor solubilized from bovine cerebral cortex was purified using baclofen-coupled affinity beads (baclofen-coupled Toyopearl beads). Using these procedures, almost pure GABAB receptor (80 KDa protein) was obtained in the affinity eluate. A monoclonal antibody has been also raised against the purified GABAB receptor. The antibody recognized a protein of about 80 KDa in bovine brain synaptic membrane. Immunoabsorbent agarose beads conjugated with the antibody were able to remove more than 90% of the baclofen suppressive GABA binding activity in the solubilized synaptic membrane, and this system was found to be useful for the immunoaffinity column chromatographic separation of GABAB receptor. Preliminary studies of immunohistochemical visualization of GABAB receptor in the rat cerebellum suggested that this receptor may be exclusively localized at the presynaptic site of GABAergic neurons.

Age-related decrease of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release in brain of spontaneously hypertensive rats

We studied the developmental alteration of GABA release in spontaneous ly hypertensive(SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rat(WKY) brain. The release of [3H]GABA observed under high potassium(30 mM) in eleven-week-old(hypertensive) SHR hippocampus and the spontaneous release of [3H]GABA in the same aged SHR medulla oblongata were lower than those of age-matched WKY. We conclude that the GABAergic mechanisms may be different in SHR and WKY brain and may be associated with the development of hypertension.

Disappearance of γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)b receptor-mediated cAMP suppression in mouse cerebrum after chronic treatment with morphine

The effects of chronic morphine administration (dependence) and naloxone-induced withdrawal on cerebral GABAB receptor and its signal transduction system were examined. Alterations in receptor affinity and number and in the amount of Gi protein were determined by radioligand binding assay and immunoblotting with Gi protein antibody, respectively. [3H]GABA binding to GABAB receptors in the brain of morphine-dependent and -withdrawn mice showed no significant change in either high or low affinity sites. Similarly, no alterations were noted in the coupling between GABAB receptor and Gi protein or in the amount of protein. However, the suppressive effect of baclofen, a GABAB agonist, on forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation in cerebral cortical slices of these animals was abolished. These results indicate that chronic morphine administration may induce functional deterioration in the coupling between Gi protein and the adenylate cyclase system.

Inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein α-subunits in brain of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Previously we have reported a decreased GABAB receptor expression in brain of spontaneously hepertensive rats (SHR). Moreover, decreased receptor numbers were accompanied by depressed stimulation of cAMP formation. We have now quantified Gi alpha protein by immunoblotting in cerebral membranes from 11-week-old normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and hepertensive SHR. The levels of the alpha-subunit in the two sets of membranes were similar. In conclusion, the reduced response in adenylate cyclase activity to agents that function via the Gi protein, e.g., GABAB receptor agonists, in SHR brain is not a consequence of altered level of Gi alpha protein.