MORIMOTO Satoshi
   Department   School of Medicine(Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital), School of Medicine
   Position   Associate Professor
Article types Original article
Language English
Peer review Peer reviewed
Title Nitric oxide is an excitatory modulator in the rostral ventrolateral medulla in rats.
Journal Formal name:American journal of hypertension
Abbreviation:Am J Hypertens
ISSN code:08957061/08957061
Domestic / ForeginForegin
Volume, Issue, Page 13(10),pp.1125-34
Author and coauthor Morimoto S†*, Sasaki S, Miki S, Kawa T, Nakamura K, Itoh H, Nakata T, Takeda K, Nakagawa M, Fushiki S
Authorship Lead author,Corresponding author
Publication date 2000/10
Summary Nitric oxide is a messenger molecule having various functions in the brain. Previous studies have reported conflicting results for the roles of nitric oxide in the rostral ventrolateral medulla, a major center that regulates sympathetic and cardiovascular activities. We hypothesized that in this region, nitric oxide may have a biphasic effect on cardiovascular activity. Microinjection of a low dose (1 nmol) of a nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside or a cyclic GMP agonist 8-bromocyclic GMP into this area increased arterial pressure, whereas injection of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester or a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor methylene blue decreased arterial pressure. Microinjection of a high dose (100 nmol) of sodium nitroprusside decreased arterial pressure and inhibited spontaneous respiration with concomitant production of peroxynitrite, a strong cytotoxic oxidant. Increases in arterial pressure caused by microinjection of L-glutamate were inhibited after preinjection of Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester or methylene blue. Increases in arterial pressure caused by microinjection of sodium nitroprusside (1 nmol) were inhibited after preinjection of a glutamate receptor antagonist kynurenate. These results suggest that low doses of nitric oxide may increase arterial pressure, whereas high doses of nitric oxide may decrease arterial pressure through cytotoxic effects in the rostral ventrolateral medulla. They also indicate that nitric oxide may stimulate neurons both through activation of the nitric oxide cyclic GMP pathway and through modulation of glutamate receptor stimulation, and therefore, increase arterial pressure in rats.
DOI 10.1016/s0895-7061(00)01182-1
PMID 11041168