Effects of placental protein 13 on the cardiovascular system in gravid and non-gravid rodents.

Objectives: Here, we performed a pathophysiological examination of the vascular function of rodent in the presence of placental protein 13 (PP13) and its implication to regulate the development of preeclampsia.

Methods: Single i.v.

Hyperphagia modifies FA profiles of plasma phospholipids, plasma FFA, and adipose tissue TAG.

Hyperphagia was achieved by continuous intracerebroventricular infusion of a melanocortin receptor antagonist (HS024; Neosystem, Strasbourg, France) in rats. The effects of hyperphagia on FA composition and concentration of plasma phospholipids (PL), plasma FFA, and adipose tissue TAG were studied in rats for 8 d [short-term hyperphagia (STH); n = 8], or 28 d [long-term hyperphagia (LTH); n = 9]. The control rats were treated with artificial cerebrospinal fluid for 8 d (n = 8) or 28 d (n = 10).

Functional role, structure, and evolution of the melanocortin-4 receptor.

The melanocortin (MC)-4 receptor participates in regulating body weight homeostasis. We demonstrated early that acute blockage of the MC-4 receptor increases food intake and relieves anorexic conditions in rats. Our recent studies show that 4-week chronic blockage of the MC-4 receptor leads to robust increases in food intake and development of obesity, whereas stimulation of the receptor leads to anorexia.

Food conversion is transiently affected during 4-week chronic administration of melanocortin agonist and antagonist in rats.

The central melanocortin system is involved in the regulation of food intake and body weight. In this study, we investigated the effect of a 4-week intracerebroventricular infusion of the melanocortin receptor agonist MT-II and the selective melanocortin-4 receptor antagonist HS024 on food intake and body weight homeostasis. The MT-II-treated rats ate less and lost considerably more weight than the control rats during the first week of treatment.

Melanocortin receptor agonist transiently increases oxygen consumption in rats.

Acute injections of melanocortin (MC) agonist and antagonist are highly effective in reducing or increasing food take, respectively. Much less is known about how injection of MC receptor active substances affects metabolism, in particular during long term administration. Here we investigated the effect of 8 days continuous i.

Does sympathetic nerve discharge affect the firing of polymodal C-fibre afferents in humans?

Experimental and clinical studies in animals and humans have indicated that nociceptive nerve fibres can acquire sensitivity to norepinephrine after injury or chemical sensitization. To evaluate the functional relevance of such sensitization, we recorded the activity of single polymodal C-fibre afferents in healthy human volunteers and investigated whether intense physiological sympatho-excitation could affect their firing properties. This was studied before and after chemical sensitization of receptive fields by topical application of mustard oil.

Long term orexigenic effect of a novel melanocortin 4 receptor selective antagonist.

1. We designed and synthesized several novel cyclic MSH analogues and tested their affinities for cells expressing the MC1, MC3, MC4 and MC5 receptors. 2.

Importance of the lactate anion in control of breathing.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of raising the arterial La- and K+ levels on minute ventilation (VE) in rats. Either La- or KCl solutions were infused in anesthetized spontaneously breathing Wistar rats to raise the respective ion arterial concentration ([La-] and [K+]) gradually to levels similar to those observed during strenuous exercise. VE, blood pressure, and heart rate were recorded continuously, and arterial [La-], [K+], pH, and blood gases were repeatedly measured from blood samples.

Sympathetic nerve traffic correlates with the release of nitric oxide in humans: implications for blood pressure control.

1. Resting human sympathetic vasoconstrictor traffic displays large reproducible inter-individual differences which are similar in nerves to muscle, heart and kidney. In spite of this there is no correlation between levels of blood pressure and sympathetic traffic.

The effects of hexamethonium on cerebral blood flow and cerebral function during relative cerebral ischaemia in rats.

Cerebral blood flow in either the cortex, thalamic region or the brain stem, as well as somatosensory evoked potentials were measured in a model of moderate cerebral ischaemia in three groups of anaesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats. The rats were bled to reduce evoked potential amplitudes to approximately 50-60% of pre-haemorrhage control. The consequent blood pressure fall reduced blood flow to approximately 65, 80 and 85% of pre-haemorrhage control in the cortical, thalamic and brain stem regions, respectively, as measured with a laser Doppler flowmeter.

Differential responses in adrenal and renal nerves to CNS osmotic stimulation.

Hypertonic solutions act in the central nervous system (CNS) to increase mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) by activation of the sympathoadrenal axis. However, adrenal nerve activity (pre- and postganglionic nerve fibers) has not been determined during central osmotic stimulation. Therefore, these experiments evaluated adrenal (AdSNA) and renal (RSNA) sympathetic nerve activity, MAP, and heart rate (HR) following CNS administration of isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic sodium chloride solutions in chloralose-anesthetized rats.

The effects of selective opioid antagonists on somatosensory evoked potentials during relative cerebral ischemia in rats.

Hemorrhagic hypotension in spontaneously hypertensive rats induces attenuation of somatosensory evoked potentials. In this model of relatively mild cerebral ischemia, our previous studies have shown that naloxone stereospecifically enhances the evoked potentials, without changes in cortical blood flow. The high dose of naloxone needed to enhance the evoked potentials suggests that the attenuation is mediated by low affinity opioid receptors (delta or kappa).

Evidence for an adrenergic innervation of the adrenal cortical blood vessels in rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the blood flow in the adrenal cortex of the rat. Relative changes in the adrenal cortical blood flow were continuously measured by Laser Doppler flowmetry in 33 chloralose-anaesthetized artificially ventilated rats during electrical stimulation (1 ms, 5 V) of the left great splanchnic nerve (LGSN), which conveys both pre- and post-ganglionic nerve fibres to the adrenal gland. Laser Doppler flux (LDF) was decreased and regional resistance (RR) was increased by augmenting nerve stimulation at increasingly higher frequencies (2, 4, 8, 20 and 40 Hz).

Effect of chronic ethanol consumption upon cardiovascular reactivity, heart rate and blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats.

Objective: Clarification of the effect of chronic ethanol consumption upon cardiovascular reactivity in rats.

Design: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) normotensive rats were randomly allocated in groups of 10 to ethanol in tap water [20% (v:v) after the first week or tap water for 7-12 weeks].

Methods: Intra-arterial blood pressure and heart rate were measured at rest and in response to vibration and noise stress.

Differential responses in post- and pre-ganglionic adrenal sympathetic nerve activity and renal sympathetic nerve activity after injection of 2-deoxy-D-glucose and insulin in rats.

The aim of the study was to compare pre-ganglionic adrenal nerve activity (pre-aSNA) to post-ganglionic adrenal nerve activity (post-aSNA) in rats after administration of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG, 500 mg kg-1, i.v.), which mimicks a central hypoglycaemia or to the response in pre-aSNA and post-aSNA to hypoglycaemia after injection of insulin (5U).

Reflex changes in post- and preganglionic sympathetic adrenal nerve activity and postganglionic sympathetic renal nerve activity upon arterial baroreceptor activation and during severe haemorrhage in the rat.

The aim of the study was to compare pre- (pre-aSNA) and postganglionic adrenal sympathetic nerve activity (post-aSNA) and postganglionic renal sympathetic nerve activity (rSNA) in rats during arterial baroreceptor activation and haemorrhage. Adrenal multifibre nerve activity was recorded in chloralose-anaesthetized Wistar rats. To test for pre-aSNA or post-aSNA in adrenal nerves, a ganglionic blocker, trimethaphan (10 mg kg-1), was administered i.

Neurophysiological evidence for and characterization of the post-ganglionic innervation of the adrenal gland in the rat.

The aim of this study was to examine and characterize the post-ganglionic innervation of the adrenal gland, using a neurophysiological nerve recording technique. Adrenal multifibre nerve activity was recorded in chloralose-anaesthetized Wistar rats. To test for post-ganglionic nerve activity, trimethaphan, a ganglionic blocker, was given intravenously.

Electric muscle stimulation in the spontaneously hypertensive rat induces a post-stimulatory reduction in activity: role of different opioid receptors.

We have previously shown that prolonged low-frequency muscle stimulation, inducing contractions of the gastrocnemius muscle, in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats leads to an opioid-mediated post-stimulatory reduction in blood pressure and analgesia. In the present study we investigated whether muscle stimulation would also induce a post-stimulatory reduction in behavioural activity in the spontaneously hypertensive rats. Selective opioid receptor antagonists were used to analyse the involvement of endogenous opioids.

Role of different serotonergic receptors in the long-lasting blood pressure depression following muscle stimulation in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

In a previous study prolonged low-frequency muscle stimulation in the hind leg of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) was shown to induce a reduction in blood pressure (about 15 mmHg) that lasted for many hours. We showed in that study that endorphin and serotonin systems were involved. In the present study drugs with selective affinity for the serotonin (5-HT) receptors were used to analyse further the involvement of different serotonin systems.

Regional changes in sympathetic nerve activity and baroreceptor reflex function and arterial plasma levels of catecholamines, renin and vasopressin during naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal in rats.

The aim of the study was to examine regional changes in sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and baroreceptor function and arterial plasma catecholamines, arginine vasopressin (AVP) and plasma renin activity during morphine withdrawal in chloralose-anesthetized rats. Dependence was induced by s.c.

Differentiated responses of renal and adrenal sympathetic nerve activity to intravenous morphine administration in anesthetized rats.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of i.v. morphine on sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in the rat.

Electrical stimulation of the gastrocnemius muscle in the spontaneously hypertensive rat increases the pain threshold: role of different serotonergic receptors.

In a previous study, prolonged low-frequency muscle stimulation in the hind leg of the fully conscious spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) was shown to induce a long-lasting reduction of blood pressure. It was also shown that opioid and serotonergic (5-HT) systems were involved. More recently, we have shown that the 5-HT1 receptors are involved in the post-stimulatory decrease in blood pressure.

Effect of the calcium antagonists felodipine and nimodipine on cortical blood flow in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

We studied the effect of the dihydropyridine calcium antagonists felodipine nimodipine on perfusion of the cerebral cortex in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Nimodipine and felodipine were infused in equipotent doses in chloralose-anaesthetized SHR. During the infusion of a low and an intermediate dose of felodipine, mean arterial blood pressure was lowered to 90.

The effects of naloxone on cerebral blood flow and cerebral function during relative cerebral ischemia.

CBF and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were measured in a model of moderate cerebral ischemia in anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats. The rats were bled to reduce SEP amplitudes to about 50% of prebleeding control. The consequent blood pressure fall reduced CBF to 77% of control as measured by the laser-Doppler technique.