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F R Calaresu

Publications and source records attributed to F R Calaresu.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Ovarian nerve extracts influence androgen production by cultured ovarian thecal cells.

There is growing evidence that ovarian steroidogenesis is controlled not only by pituitary gonadotropins but also by ovarian nerves. Nerves reach the ovary via the plexus nerve and via the superior ovarian nerve (SON), which runs in the suspensory ligament, and innervate theca cells of all sizes of follicles. To investigate the role of ovarian nerves in steroidogenesis we have examined the effects of adding an extract of SON from adult rats on androgen production by cultured porcine theca cells. Addition of SON extract to cultured theca interna from 3 to 6 mm diameter follicles of prepubertal gilts significantly inhibited (p less than 0.05) LH-stimulated androstenedione production in a dose-dependent manner; significant inhibition (10.8%) occurred with the addition of the extract of 2 mg of SON/ml culture medium, and near maximal inhibition (83%) resulted when the SON extract was increased to 60 mg SON/ml. Extracts of sciatic nerves, used as non-ovarian nerve controls, failed to inhibit, and in fact significantly increased (p less than 0.05) androstenedione production over the same concentration range of neural tissue extract. The inhibitory effect of the SON extract was unaffected by chymotrypsin digestion or by the presence of the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol (10(-6) M), but was removed by charcoal treatment. These results suggest that the nervous system has the potential for modulation of follicular steroid biosynthesis via direct innervation of the ovaries, in addition to the well-established indirect mechanism of neural control exerted via the hypothalamic-pituitary system.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1988

Neuropeptide and serotonin immunoreactive neurons in the cat ventrolateral medulla.

The distribution of cell bodies containing serotonin (5-HT)-, substance-P (SP)-, neurotensin (NT)-, and somatostatin (SS)-like immunoreactivity (IR) in ventrolateral medulla (VLM) of the cat was studied immunohistochemically after administration of colchicine into the cisterna magna. Perikarya containing 5-HT-, SP-, NT- or SS-IR were found throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the VLM. Although neurons containing the different neuroactive substances appeared to have an overlapping distribution in VLM, some distinct differences were observed. In the caudal VLM most of the immunoreactive cell bodies observed contained 5-HT-IR. These neurons were found primarily in the region medial to lateral reticular nucleus (LRN) around the exiting intramedullary rootlets of the hypoglossal nerve (12N). In the intermediate region of VLM, perikarya containing 5-HT- and SP-IR were observed primarily near the ventrolateral surface of the medulla in the region around the exiting rootlets of the 12N. In contrast, most of the cells containing NT- and SS-IR were consistently observed to occupy a region in the medullary reticular formation immediately dorsal to that where 5-HT- and SP-IR perikarya were found. Finally, most of the immunoreactive perikarya were found in the rostral VLM; perikarya containing 5-HT- and SP-IR were observed throughout the nucleus paragigantocellularis lateralis (PGL) near the ventrolateral surface of the medulla. These data indicate that neurons immunoreactive to either 5-HT or several different neuropeptides were located in regions of VLM which have previously been implicated in the control of arterial pressure. As regions of VLM containing these neuroactive substances in neuronal perikarya have been shown to have direct connections with spinal sympathetic areas it is likely that these VLM cells are components of neuronal circuits involved in homeostatic mechanisms controlling the circulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Septal neurons respond to activation of baro- and chemoreceptors in the rat.

Because it has recently been shown that selective activation of neuronal perikarya in the septal area elicits arterial depressor responses, it seems reasonable to expect that information from receptors in the cardiovascular system may be related to the septum. This possibility was investigated by searching for single units in the medial and lateral septal nuclei responding to activation of baroreceptors, elicited either by electrical stimulation of the aortic depressor nerve (ADN) or by systemic injection of phenylephrine (PE), or responding to activation of chemoreceptors, elicited by intracarotid injection of sodium cyanide. Fifty-four male Wistar rats weighing 300-400 g were anesthetized with urethan (1.4 g/kg ip) or alpha-chloralose-urethan (35 and 400 mg/kg ip, respectively) and allowed to breathe spontaneously. One-third of spontaneously firing units tested responded to ADN stimulation; these 93 units were divided into two groups according to their response patterns; 62 (67%) showed an increase and 31 (33%) a decrease in their discharge. Of 35 units tested, 6 responded to intravenous injection of PE. The majority of the units (48 of 60) affected by chemoreceptor activation were excited, and the remaining 12 were inhibited. These experiments suggest that sensory information from cardiovascular receptors may play an important role in the control of the circulation by the septum.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Cardiovascular responses to microinjection of ANF into dorsal medulla of rats.

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) has been suggested as a putative neurotransmitter in central pathways involved in the control of the cardiovascular system. To investigate this possibility, 50 nl of 10(-7) M ANF were microinjected into discrete sites in the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS) where baro- and chemoreceptor afferents terminate. Injections into 36 of a total of 66 sites in the NTS of paralyzed artificially ventilated Wistar rats under urethan anesthesia were found to produce a significant decline in heart rate [HR; -9.2 +/- 2.9 (SE) beats/min, P less than 0.05] and mean arterial pressure [MAP; -11.1 +/- 1.2 (SE) mmHg, P less than 0.01]. Similar responses were also present in anesthetized animals breathing spontaneously. Microinjection of an inactive peptide analogue or of saline did not produce cardiovascular changes. It was also found that ANF injection into the cuneate nucleus (20 of 38 sites) and the spinal trigeminal complex (28 of 42 sites) produced a decrease in MAP and HR that were of the same magnitude as those seen in the NTS. Injections of ANF into the medial longitudinal fasciculus (n = 22), hypoglossal nucleus (n = 9), area postrema (n = 16), and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (n = 11) did not change HR or MAP. These results suggest that ANF may serve as a neurotransmitter involved in cardiovascular reflexes mediated by specific nuclei in the dorsal medulla.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1987

Distribution and morphology of vasopressin-, neurophysin II-, and oxytocin-immunoreactive cell bodies in the forebrain of the cat.

Experiments were done to provide a detailed map of the location and a description of morphological characteristics of vasopressin (AVP-IR)-, neurophysin II (NII-IR)- and oxytocin (OXY-IR)-immunoreactive neuronal perikarya in the forebrain of the cat. In addition, the location of cells in the forebrain retrogradely labeled following injections of tracers into the neurohypophysis was determined. The distribution of AVP-IR and NII-IR was similar in all cases studied. Most of the cells containing AVP-IR and OXY-IR were observed in the hypothalamic paraventricular (PVH) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei. In addition, AVP-IR and OXY-IR cell bodies were found in the regions of the nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca, the dorsal chiasmatic nucleus, the anterior hypothalamic-preoptic area, the periventricular area, the nucleus circularis, the perifornical area of the lateral hypothalamus, the accessory SON, the area of the tuber cinereum (Tca), and the medial nucleus of the amygdala. The density of AVP-IR cells was greater than that of OXY-IR cells in these regions. Several forebrain areas were also observed to contain only AVP-IR perikarya: the suprachiasmatic nucleus (Sc), the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and the region of the substantia innominata and ventral globus pallidus (SI/GP). In addition, the dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus only contained OXY-IR perikarya. Most of the cells immunoreactive to AVP were multipolar and had spinelike processes over their somata and proximal dendrites. In addition, the majority of cells in the PVH and SON were round or oval, whereas those outside these nuclei were fusiform or triangular. The mean somal area of AVP-IR cells in the region of the SI/GP was significantly (P less than 0.05) larger than that of AVP-IR cells in all other regions examined, whereas the mean somal area of Sc AVP-IR cells was significantly (P less than 0.05) smaller than that of all other groups of AVP-IR cells examined. Most OXY-IR cells were similar morphologically to those immunoreactive to AVP, except that OXY-IR cell bodies and their appendages did not have spinelike processes. In addition, OXY-IR perikarya were generally of uniform size. OXY-IR cells in the PVH and accessory SON were significantly (P less than 0.05) larger than AVP-IR cells in the same regions, but were not different from AVP-IR cells in the lateral hypothalamus and SON.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amidines↗
PubMed1987

Chemical microstimulation of the septal area lowers arterial pressure in the rat.

Electrical stimulation of the septal area has been previously reported to result in either an increase or a decrease in arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR) depending on the site of stimulation within the septum or on the anesthetic. These conflicting results could be due to the different proportions of cell bodies and fibers activated by electrical stimulation at different sites and to the different anesthetics acting differently on cell bodies and fibers. To study the cardiovascular responses to activation of cell bodies, DL-homocysteate (20-50 nl) was injected into histologically verified sites in the lateral septum (LS), the medial septum (MS), the nucleus of the vertical limb of the diagonal band of Broca (NDBB), and in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) in urethananesthetized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated rats. Injections in the LS, MS, and NDBB elicited a decrease in AP [-12.6 +/- 0.9 (SE) mmHg, n = 111] accompanied by variable changes in HR. In a group of spontaneously breathing rats anesthetized with urethan, AP responses were not significantly different from those obtained in paralyzed animals. Finally, in a group of animals under alpha-chloralose, AP responses were not significantly different from those observed in animals under urethan. Homocysteate application in the BST resulted in either depressor [-10.8 +/- 0.9 (SE) mmHg, n = 20] or pressor responses [13.7 +/- 1.9 (SE) mmHg, n = 9].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1987

Cardiovascular responses to chemical and electrical stimulation of amygdala in rats.

Electrical stimulation of the amygdala has been shown to produce changes in cardiovascular variables. To locate neuronal cell bodies responsible for these changes, responses of arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR) to DL-homocysteate (DLH, 0.15 M, 50-100 nl) microinjected into sites in three amygdaloid nuclei were compared with responses to electrical (90-150 microA) stimulation of the same sites in 35 artificially ventilated, paralyzed, urethan-anesthetized rats. Electrical stimulation resulted in depressor responses in most sites (89%). Changes in AP were accompanied by variable changes in HR. Chemical stimulation produced significantly fewer (25%) depressor responses. Similar results were obtained with injections of 1.0 M DLH. To eliminate the influence of the anesthetic on these responses, AP was recorded in nine conscious rats while stimulating the amygdala. Changes in behavior and AP in these animals could be obtained only by electrical stimulation. These results may be interpreted to indicate either that cell bodies responsible for changes in cardiovascular variables during electrical stimulation are not located in the amygdala or that chemical and electrical stimulation affect different neuronal elements in circuits located in the same anatomic site.

Amygdala↗
PubMed1986

Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in neurons, nerve terminals, and fibers of the cat spinal cord.

The distribution of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SS) was studied in the spinal cord of untreated cats and of cats that had received colchicine at all levels of the cord. In the dorsal horn small (less than 15 microns in diameter), round neurons were found in Rexed laminae II and III at all levels. At all levels laminae IV-VI contained smaller numbers of immunoreactive neurons that were medium (between 15 and 25 microns in diameter) to large (greater than 25 microns in diameter) in size. In addition, small numbers of medium-sized neurons were observed at the dorsal and dorsomedial borders of the gray and white matter in segments C1-5. In the sacral cord (S1-3), a group of medium-sized bipolar neurons was found in the dorsolateral funiculus. In transverse sections the processes of the neurons in these two latter groups travelled in a direction parallel to the border of the gray and white matter. In the intermediate and central gray matter, in addition to the immunoreactive neurons found in the region of the intermediolateral nucleus and nucleus intercalatus of lamina VII in segments C8 to L4 (Krukoff et al., '85a), lamina VII contained immunoreactive neurons at all levels with the largest number occurring in the thoracic cord. These neurons were medium to large in size and were generally multipolar with processes travelling in all directions. Multipolar small immunoreactive neurons were also found in the central gray region (lamina X) in the thoracic and upper lumbar cord. Finally, small numbers of neurons containing SS were found in the ventral horn of the cervical and upper thoracic cord. These multipolar neurons were medium to large in size. The distribution of nerve terminals and fibers containing SS was similar to that previously described in mice, rats, guinea pigs, and primates. Although the function of somatostatin in the spinal cord is not known, its presence in neurons with short processes suggests that it may act to modify local activity in the regions where it is found, including areas involved in sensory, visceromotor, and motor functions.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Renal responses to atriopeptin II are not dependent on renal nerves.

The possibility that renal responses to atriopeptin II (AP II) may depend in part on an inhibition of renal sympathetic nerve effects on the kidney was investigated in seven anesthetized Wistar rats in which one of the kidneys was denervated 7-10 days before experimentation. Clearance studies were done before, during, and after infusion of AP II (0.07 nmol . min-1 iv). During AP II infusion mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased from 123 +/- 2 to 75 +/- 2 mmHg. Renal blood flow (RBF) was decreased significantly and renal vascular resistance was increased significantly in the innervated kidneys but not in the denervated kidneys during AP II infusion. Glomerular filtration rate during AP II infusion was not significantly altered, but urine flow rate and the excretion of sodium and potassium were significantly increased proportionately in both the innervated and denervated kidneys. These results suggest that 1) the decreased RBF observed in the innervated kidneys was due to an increase in renal vasoconstrictor nerve activity reflexly induced by the decrease in MAP during AP II infusion and 2) renal innervation was not necessary for AP II to produce a natriuresis and diuresis.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Increased hexokinase activity in forebrain of water-deprived and diabetes insipidus rats.

Metabolic studies using the 2-[14C]deoxy-D-glucose and cytochrome oxidase techniques have demonstrated changes in the activity of central sites associated with the hypothalamoneurohypophysial system in water-deprived (WD) and diabetes insipidus (DI) rats. Another method that may be used as an index of metabolic activity in discrete regions of the central nervous system is the measurement of hexokinase (HK) activity. This study describes changes in metabolic activity, as measured by HK histochemistry, in regions of the forebrain of WD and DI rats. Significant increases in HK activity measured by densitometric analysis were observed in the magnocellular component of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, supraoptic nucleus, nucleus circularis, and neurohypophysis of WD and DI rats. In addition, increased HK activity was observed in the preoptic area and subfornical organ of DI rats. These data demonstrate that metabolic changes occur in the forebrain of WD and DI rats within structures involved in body fluid regulation. The present study also demonstrates that HK histochemistry may be used as a marker of metabolic activity in discrete regions of the central nervous system.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Changes in forebrain hexokinase activity after aortic baroreceptor denervation.

Although forebrain structures have been implicated in both the development and maintenance of the elevated arterial pressure (AP) after aortic baroreceptor denervation, little is known about the location of central structures involved in the hypertensive process. In the present study, regions of the forebrain whose metabolic activity was altered after aortic baroreceptor denervation were functionally identified using hexokinase (HK) histochemistry in the rat. Three days after bilateral aortic depressor nerve (ADN) transection AP was significantly elevated compared with sham ADN-transected animals (143 +/- 1 and 122 +/- 2 mmHg, respectively). Significant increases in HK activity were observed in the magno- and parvocellular components of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, supraoptic nucleus, nucleus circularis, median preoptic nucleus, subfornical organ, and central nucleus of the amygdala in the ADN-transected animals. These data have demonstrated that removal of aortic baroreceptor afferent inputs alters the activity of forebrain structures previously implicated in regulation of body fluid balance and AP and suggest that these structures are involved in the hypertensive process after ADN transection.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Lateral hypothalamic and peripheral cardiovascular afferent inputs to ventrolateral medullary neurons.

Experiments were done in chloralose anesthetized, paralyzed and artificially ventilated cats to identify single units in ventrolateral medulla (VLM) projecting directly to the intermediate gray (IG) region of the upper thoracic cord and responding to inputs from pressor sites in the anterior lateral hypothalamus (Hla) and carotid sinus (CSN) and aortic depressor (ADN) nerves. Forty-eight units were antidromically activated in VLM to stimulation of the IG at the level of T2. Of these 48 units, 15 (31%) were orthodromically excited by stimulation of the Hla with a mean latency of 15.8 +/- 2.1 ms. In addition, 8 of the 15 units responding to Hla stimulation were also excited orthodromically by stimulation of either the CSN or ADN or both. Of the remaining 33 units, 15 responded to stimulation of only the buffer nerves and 18 were unresponsive to the tested inputs. These results provide electrophysiological evidence for the existence of neurons in VLM which receive hypothalamic and buffer nerve inputs and suggest that the VLM plays a role in integrating and relaying cardiovascular afferent information from peripheral baroreceptors and chemoreceptors and from supramedullary centers to provide effector signals to spinal autonomic neurons involved in the control of the circulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Segmental distribution of peptide-like immunoreactivity in cell bodies of the thoracolumbar sympathetic nuclei of the cat.

The distribution of leucine-enkephalin, methionine-enkephalin, neurotensin, somatostatin, substance P, oxytocin, vasopressin, and neurophysin II in cell bodies of sympathetic autonomic nuclei of the thoracolumbar (T-L) spinal cord was studied immunohistochemically in cats after intrathecal administration of colchicine. Neurons containing only enkephalin-, neurotensin-, somatostatin-, and substance P-like immunoreactivity (ENK, NT, SS, SP, respectively) were found in the intermediolateral nucleus pars principalis (IMLp) and pars funicularis (IMLf), the nucleus intercalatus (IC), and the central autonomic area (CA). The size, shape, location, and numbers of the peptide-positive neurons in the IMLp, IMLf, and IC suggested that they were sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPN). This was confirmed by a combined retrograde tracing/immunohistochemical study showing that most of these neurons at the levels of the T-L cord known to provide preganglionic fibers to the stellate ganglion were SPN. On the other hand, the functional identification of the neurons in the CA is uncertain as neurons were not observed which were both retrogradely labelled and contained ENK, NT, SS, or SP. Immunoreactive neurons in each area were counted in ten sections from each segment from C8 to L4. In the IMLp, the SPN with ENK were greatest in number (up to 25) in segments T4-T7 and L2-L3. The maximum number of SPN containing NT was found in segments T4-T7 (45 neurons). Of the four peptides, neurons containing SS were found in the greatest number (up to 48 in segments T2-T6); neurons containing SP were found in the smallest number (15 or fewer per segment). Few SPN containing each of the four peptides were found in the IC; CA neurons with ENK and NT were also few in number. A comparison of the numbers of immunoreactive neurons in the IML with earlier estimates for the total numbers of SPN in the IML at each level showed that the proportions of IML neurons containing each of the four peptides were fairly consistent throughout the T-L cord, with some exceptions. These results suggest that the innervation of visceral organs is not obviously peptide-specific, although some organs may be innervated by a greater proportion of SPN containing one of these peptides. Finally, the presence of ENK, NT, SS, and SP in SPN suggests that these four peptides act as neurotransmitters in preganglionic pathways to sympathetic ganglia.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Segmental distribution of peptide- and 5HT-like immunoreactivity in nerve terminals and fibers of the thoracolumbar sympathetic nuclei of the cat.

The distribution of leucine-enkephalin, methionine-enkephalin, neurotensin, somatostatin, substance P, oxytocin, vasopressin, neurophysin II, and serotonin in nerve terminals and fibers of sympathetic autonomic areas of the thoracolumbar (T-L) spinal cord was studied immunohistochemically in cats. Densities of these immunoreactive terminals and fibers were estimated in the intermediolateral nucleus pars principalis (IMLp) and pars funicularis (IMLf), the nucleus intercalatus (IC), and the central autonomic area (CA). Results for leucine- and methionine-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity (ENK) were similar and immunoreactivity for vasopressin was not observed. The greatest numbers of terminals and fibers in the IMLp region contained ENK, neurotensin-(NT), and serotonin-like immunoreactivity (5HT); terminals and fibers containing substance P-(SP) and neurophysin II-like immunoreactivity (NP2) were intermediate in number, and those containing somatostatin-(SS) and oxytocin-like immunoreactivity (OXY) were generally sparse. In the IC and CA, terminals and fibers containing ENK and NT were dense, those containing SP were moderate, and those containing OXY, NP2, and 5HT were sparsely represented. In the IMLp, where the largest proportion of sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPN) is found, the greatest concentration of terminals and fibers containing ENK was found in segments T1-T8; for NT these segments were T1-T5 and T11-L1, for SP-C8-T2 and T11-L1, for NP2-T4-T7 and L2 to L3, and for 5HT-T1-T5. Terminals and fibers containing SS and OXY were present in segments C8-T10 and segments C8, T2-T8, T13, and L2 to L3, respectively. These results indicate that while ENK, NT, SP, NP2, and 5HT fibers and terminals are widely distributed throughout the T-L cord, they may influence to a greater degree the SPN in segments where they are present in greater numbers. As SS and OXY were not found at all levels of the IMLp, their functions may be more organ specific.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

An anomalous vagorenal reflex pathway in the cat.

Although physiological investigations support the view that the innervation to the kidney is primarily sympathetic in origin, there is anatomic evidence suggesting direct vagal projections to the kidney. We examined electrophysiologically the possibility that neural connections exist between the cervical vagus and renal nerves. Electrical stimulation of the peripheral segment of the cut cervical vagus evoked electrical activity in the central segment of cut renal nerve of chloralose-anesthetized, paralyzed cats. The evoked potentials (vagorenal responses) displayed components with peak latencies of about 50, 120, and 500 ms. Another peak at about 175 ms was also seen in some cases. In addition, a period of postexcitatory depression occurred between approximately 180 and 400 ms after delivery of the stimulus. Evoked responses were recorded in the contralateral as well as the ipsilateral renal nerves. In contrast, stimulation of the central cut end of renal nerves did not elicit responses in the cervical vagus. Vagorenal responses were not altered by cutting the subdiaphragmatic vagus indicating that the abdominal vagus was not involved in this response. Electrical activity in renal nerves elicited by vagal stimulation could be eliminated by either ganglionic blockade or by cutting or cooling the splanchnic nerves. Finally, supraspinal ischemia abolished the vagorenal response. These data suggest that a vagorenal reflex pathway exists and that the potentials recorded in renal nerves are due to activation of aberrant sensory fibers traveling from the peripheral segment of the cut cervical vagus to the central nervous system, where they excite a sympathetic efferent pathway to the kidney.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Central pathways relaying cardiovascular afferent information to amygdala.

It has been suggested that cardiovascular information to the amygdala is relayed through the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) and the parabrachial nucleus (PB;7). To test this possibility spontaneously firing units in the amygdala of 12 chloralose-anesthetized cats were monitored for changes in firing frequency during electrical stimulation of PVH and PB and for their responsiveness to baroreceptor (BA) and chemoreceptor (CA) activation. In the ipsilateral amygdala 27 of 140 units responded to PVH stimulation, 9 of which also responded to CA and none to BA, whereas 46 of 150 units responded to PB stimulation, 11 of which also responded to CA and 2 to BA. To demonstrate the relative contribution of the PVH and PB in relaying cardiovascular information to the amygdala, in an additional six cats, the effect of neuronal block and lesions of these two nuclei on potentials evoked in the amygdala by stimulation of the buffer nerves was tested. Reversible neuronal block with injections of procaine in the PB significantly attenuated these evoked potentials. Electrolytic and chemical (kainic acid) lesions in the same PB sites also were effective in attenuating the responses. The potentials were unaltered by injection of procaine in the PVH. These results indicate that the PB is a site of relay of chemoreceptor and of some baroreceptor information from the medulla to the amygdala.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1984

Cytochrome oxidase activity in the hypothalamus of SHR and normotensive rats before and after fasting.

The metabolic activity in the brains of adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), and Wistar (W) rats was assessed before and after fasting using cytochrome oxidase (COX) histochemistry. Before fasting, metabolic activity in the paraventricular (PVH) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei of the hypothalamus in SHR was greater than in control rats. Fasting elicited a decrease in arterial pressure (AP) in SHR and WKY; in SHR the decrease in AP was accompanied by a decrease of metabolic activity in the PVH and SON. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that the PVH and SON are involved in the hypertension and in the increased levels of sympathetic nervous activity and vasopressin production known to occur in SHR. In addition, the PVH and possibly the SON may be involved in the suppression of sympathetic nervous system activity and the lowering of arterial pressure which are associated with fasting.

Animals↗