Blood pressure changes modify the release rates of catecholamines in the intermediate nucleus of the solitary tract

Summary In anaesthetized cats, the intermediate aspect of the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) was bilaterally superfused with artificial CSF through push-pull cannulae. The release of the endogenous catecholamines dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline was determined in the superfusates radioenzymatically. Blood pressure changes were elicited by intravenous injections of drugs (noradrenaline or chlorisondamine), or electrical stimulation of the intermediate NTS with the tip of the push-pull cannula.Intravenous injections of noradrenaline (3 or 10 g/kg) elicited a rise in the arterial blood pressure which was associated with a decrease in the release rate of adrenaline in the intermediate NTS. The release rates of dopamine and noradrenaline were not influenced. The intravenous injection of chlorisondamine (3 mg/kg) lowered blood pressure and diminished the release rate of dopamine in the intermediate NTS. The release rate of noradrenaline was not modified by chlorisondamine. Electrical stimulation of the intermediate NTS contralateral to the superfused nucleus increased moderately the arterial blood pressure and decreased the release rate of noradrenaline and dopamine, while the release of adrenaline was not influenced. The findings suggest that experimentally induced changes in the arterial blood pressure by drugs injected intravenously modify the release rates of adrenaline and dopamine in the intermediate NTS so as to counteract the blood pressure change. In the intermediate NTS, release of adrenaline from adrenergic nerve terminals seems to act hypertensive. The results obtained with chlorisondamine point to a hypotensive function of endogenous dopamine in the intermediate NTS. Send offprint requests to N. Singewald at the above addressThis work was supported by the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung     

Die Bedeutung der Ribonucleinsäure für die Brenzcatechinamin- und ATP-Speicherung in den chromaffinen Granula des Nebennierenmarks

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

B-catenin deficiency, but not Myc deletion, suppresses the immediate phenotypes of APC loss in the liver

Dysregulated Wnt signaling is seen in approximately 30% of hepatocellular carcinomas; thus, finding pathways downstream of the activation of Wnt signaling is key. Here, using cre-lox technology, we deleted the Apc gene in the adult mouse liver and observed a rapid increase in nuclear β-catenin and c-Myc, which is associated with an induction of proliferation that led to hepatomegaly within 4 days of gene deletion. To investigate the downstream pathways responsible for these phenotypes, we analyzed the impact of inactivating APC in the context of deficiency of the potentially key effectors β-catenin and c-Myc. β-catenin loss rescues both the proliferation and hepatomegaly phenotypes after APC loss. However, c-Myc deletion, which rescues the phenotypes of APC loss in the intestine, had no effect on the phenotypes of APC loss in the liver. The consequences of the deregulation of the Wnt pathway within the liver are therefore strikingly different from those observed within the intestine, with the vast majority of Wnt targets being β-catenin-dependent but c-Myc-independent in the liver.     

Pulsatile release of catecholamines in the hypothalamus of conscious rats

Summary To investigate the patterns of catecholamine release in the brain, the hypothalamus of conscious, freely moving rats was superfused through a push-pull cannula with artificial cerebrospinal fluid and the catecholamines dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline were determined in the superfusate radioenzymatically. Superfusate was continuously collected in time periods of 20 min for at least 20h. Dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline release rates fluctuated according to an ultradian rhythm with a frequency of 1 cycle/92 min (dopamine and noradrenaline) or 99 min (adrenaline). Additionally, the three catecholamines were released according to an ultradian rhythm with the following frequencies: noradrenaline and adrenaline 1 cycle/ 12 h, dopamine 1 cycle/8 h. The release rates of dopamine and adrenaline were similar during light and dark periods, while the release rate of noradrenaline in the dark period was slightly lower than that during the light period. It is concluded that in the hypothalamus of the conscious rat the release rates of dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline fluctuate according to two ultradian rhythms with different frequencies.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen ForschungParts of this work have been presented at the 29th Spring Meeting of the German Society of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 1988 and at the 12th Annual Meeting of the European Neuroscience Association, 1989Correspondence to H. Prast at the above address     

Importance of adrenergic neurons of the brain for the rise of blood pressure evoked by hypothalamic stimulation

Summary The third ventricle and the aqueduct of the anaesthetized cat were cannulated and the hypothalamus was superfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Electrical stimulation of the nucleus posterior of the hypothalamus elicited a rise of the blood pressure of 58±3 mm Hg (n=20). Superfusion of the hypothalamus with artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing bretylium (5×10^–3 M) caused a gradual and long lasting impairment of the rise of blood pressure due to stimulation of the nucleus posterior. Tetracaine (1×10^–3 M) diminished the rise of blood pressure to about the same extent as did 5×10^–3M of bretylium; the inhibitory action of tetracaine was completely reversed within 120 min. Pretreatment of cats with 6-hydroxydopamine, which was applied through a Collison cannula implanted into the lateral ventricle, evoked a decrease of the noradrenaline content of the hypothalamus and of the rest of the brain and an impairment of the rise of blood pressure during stimulation of the nucleus posterior (33±3 mm Hg;n=6). The blood pressure of the anaesthetized cats was not affected by pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine. Superfusion of the hypothalamus with desipramine (1×10^–4M) enhanced the rise of blood pressure elicited by electrical stimulation. The results are compatible with the assumption that the rise of blood pressure during stimulation of the nucleus posterior of the hypothalamus is mediated by adrenergic neurons of the brain.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Failure of isoprenaline and beta-receptor blocking drugs to modify depressor response and bradycardia induced by electrical stimulation of the anterior hypothalamus of cats

Summary The role of the hypothalamic betaadrenoceptors in the depressor response and bradycardia induced by stimulation of the anterior hypothalamus was studied in cats. In chloralose and urethane anaesthetized cats the anterior hypothalamus was superfused with artifical cerebrospinal fluid through a push-pull cannula. Electrical stimulation of the anterior hypothalamus with the tip of the cannula elicited a fall of systemic blood pressure and a decrease in heart rate. Superfusion of the anterior hypothalamus with isoprenaline did not change the depressor response and bradycardia induced by electrical stimulation of the anterior hypothalamus. Superfusion with atenolol or butoxamine also failed to modify the responses. Superfusion with (±)-propranolol significantly suppressed the responses. However, superfusion with (+)-propranolol suppressed the responses to the same extent. The resting systemic blood pressure and heart rate were not significantly changed by superfusion of the hypothalamus with these drugs. These results suggest that beta-adrenoceptors of the anterior hypothalamus are not involved in the depressor response and bradycardia elicited by hypothalamic stimulation.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

Release of catecholamines in the locus coeruleus of freely moving and anaesthetized normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats: effects of cardiovascular changes and tail pinch

Noradrenaline turnover has been found to be increased in the locus coeruleus of young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). There is also evidence that the noradrenergic projection from the locus coeruleus to the posterior hypothalamus contributes to the development of genetic hypertension. To investigate whether the release of noradrenaline and dopamine in the locus coeruleus is modified in genetic hypertension, this brain region of adult SHR and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats was superfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid through a push-pull cannula. Dopamine and noradrenaline released in the superfusate were determined radioenzymatically. There was no difference in the basal release of noradrenaline and dopamine in the locus coeruleus of conscious, anaesthetized or diazepam-treated adult WKY rats and SHR. In conscious animals, a rise in blood pressure elicited by intravenous infusion of phenylephrine enhanced the release of noradrenaline and dopamine in both strains to the same extent. Intravenous infusion of sodium nitroprusside elicited a fall in blood pressure and also increased to the same degree the release of noradrenaline and dopamine in the locus coeruleus of normotensive and hypertensive conscious rats. In anaesthetized rats, baroreceptor activation by phenylephrine decreased the release of noradrenaline and dopamine, while sodium nitroprusside lowered blood pressure and enhanced the release rates of the two catecholamines. Treatment of conscious rats with diazepam (10 mg/kg, i.p., 120 min prior to starting collection of the superfusate) abolished the phenylephrine-evoked release of catecholamines observed in conscious animals. The sensory stimulus tail pinch led to a slight increase in blood pressure. In conscious animals, this aversive stimulus led to enhanced release of noradrenaline and dopamine that lasted longer in SHR than in WKY rats. The release of catecholamines evoked by tail pinch was abolished in rats treated with diazepam, as well as in anaesthetized animals. Our findings show that in adult rats, genetic hypertension does not modify the release of noradrenaline and dopamine in the locus coeruleus. Since in anaesthetized rats increases in blood pressure diminish, while decreases in blood pressure enhance, the release of noradrenaline and dopamine, it seems that both amines possess a counteracting, hypertensive function in the rat locus coeruleus. When baroreceptor activation by phenylephrine is carried out on conscious animals, stress predominates and the release of catecholamines is enhanced. This study demonstrates the importance of the noradrenergic system of the locus coeruleus in central cardiovascular control and in emotional, stress and pain-regulating processes.     

Carotid occlusion increases the release of endogenous GABA in the nucleus of the solitary tract

Summary In anaesthetized cats, the nucleus of the solitary tract was bilaterally superfused through push-pull cannulae with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the effect of carotid occlusion on the release of endogenous GABA was investigated.Bilateral carotid occlusion led to a rise in blood pressure which was associated with a very pronounced increase in the release rate of GABA in the nucleus of the solitary tract. The results demonstrate the hypertensive function of GABA in the nucleus of the solitary tract and the importance of GABAergic neurons of this nucleus for the central cardiovascular control.This work was supported by the Fonds zur Fbrderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung Send offprint requests to A. Philippu at the above address     

Pattern of catecholamine release in the nucleus tractus solitarii of the cat

Summary The release of endogenous dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline was studied in the nucleus tractus solitarii (subnucleus medialis) of anaesthetized cats. Two push-pull cannulae were inserted into the right and left nuclei tractus solitarii which were simultaneously superfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid. The release of the neurotransmitters was determined in the superfusates which were continuously collected in 10 min or 2.5 min time periods for 6 h or 2 h, respectively. Collection of the superfusates in time periods of 10 min showed that the release rates of endogenous dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline varied rhythmically according to an ultradian rhythm, the time interval between 2 adjacent phases of high release rate being approximately 1 h. Some of the phases of high release rates of the three endogenous catecholamines timely coincided with each other. Collection of the perfusates in time periods of 2.5 min revealed the existence of additional oscillations with a frequency of about 1 cycle/10 min for dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline. The findings suggest that catecholamines are released in the nucleus tractus solitarii according to an ultradian rhythm with low (1 cycle per h) and high (1 cycle per 10 min) frequencies, which might reflect the activity of catecholaminergic neurons in this brain structure.This work was supported by the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (P5750) Send offprint requests to A. Philippu at the above address     

Patterns of histamine release in the brain

The pattern of histamine release has been investigated in various brain areas of anaesthetized cats and conscious, freely moving rats by the push-pull technique. In the hypothalamus, medial amygdaloid nucleus and mamillary body of the anaesthetized cat, histamine was found to be released according to an ultradian rhythm with a frequency of 1 cycle per 1–2 h. Additionally, oscillations have been observed in the medial amygdaloid nucleus and mamillary body with a frequency of 1 oscillation per 10 min. In the posterior hypothalamus of the conscious rat, histamine is also released rhythmically with a frequency of 1 cycle per 1.5 h. Moreover, the release rate of histamine is increased in the night.This work was supported by the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung.