Activation of central GABAB receptors offsets the cyclosporine counteraction of endotoxic cardiovascular outcomes in conscious rats

We have previously shown that cyclosporine (CSA) counteracts cardiovascular manifestations induced by endotoxemia (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) such as hypotension and cardiac autonomic dysfunction in conscious rats. In this study, we investigated whether the facilitation of central γ‐amino butyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission blunts these favorable influences of CSA. The LPS‐CSA interaction was determined in the absence and presence of drugs that activate GABA_A or GABA_B receptors or elevate synaptic GABA levels in the central nervous system. The consequent i.v. administration of CSA (10 mg/kg) blunted the LPS‐evoked hypotension, tachycardia, and reductions in time‐ and frequency‐domain indices of heart rate variability (measures of cardiac autonomic control) evoked by LPS (10 mg/kg i.v.). The ability of CSA to reverse the LPS effects disappeared in rats treated intracisternally (i.c.) with baclofen (selective GABA_B agonist, 2 μg/rat) but not muscimol (selective GABA_A agonist, 1 μg/rat), indicating a preferential compromising action for central GABA_B receptors on the advantageous effects of CSA. Moreover, the improvement by CSA of LPS‐evoked cardiovascular derangements was also eliminated after concurrent i.c. administration of vigabatrin (GABA transaminase inhibitor, 200 μg/rat) or tiagabine (GABA reuptake inhibitor, 100 μg/rat). These results demonstrate that the activation of central GABA_B receptors either directly via baclofen or indirectly following interventions that boost GABA levels in central synapses counterbalances the rectifying action of CSA on endotoxemia.