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Selective C1 Lesioning Slightly Decreases Angiotensin II Type I Receptor Expression in the Rat Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla (RVLM)

Neurochemical Research volume 40, pages 2113–2120 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Cardiovascular homeostasis is regulated in large part by the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in mammals. Projections from the RVLM to the intermediolateral column of the thoracolumbar spinal cord innervate preganglionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system causing elevation of blood pressure and heart rate. A large proportion, but not all, of the neurons in the RVLM contain the enzymes necessary for the production of epinephrine and are identified as the C1 cell group. Angiotensin II (Ang II) activates the RVLM acting upon AT1 receptors. To assess the proportion of AT1 receptors that are located on C1 neurons in the rat RVLM this study employed an antibody to dopamine-beta-hydroxylase conjugated to saporin, to selectively destroy C1 neurons in the RVLM. Expression of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive neurons in the RVLM was reduced by 57 % in the toxin injected RVLM compared to the contralateral RVLM. In contrast, densitometric analysis of autoradiographic images of 125I-sarcosine1, isoleucine8 Ang II binding to AT1 receptors of the injected side RVLM revealed a small (10 %) reduction in AT1-receptor expression compared to the contralateral RVLM. These results suggest that the majority of AT1 receptors in the rat RVLM are located on non-C1 neurons or glia.

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Acknowledgments

Supported by NIH Grants HL-55687 (AFS) and HL-113905 (RCS), and The Peptide Radioiodination Service Center of the University of Mississippi. The authors thank Andrea Linares for technical assistance.

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Affiliations

  1. Mississippi College, 200 S Capitol St, Clinton, MS, 39058, USA

    Erick A. Bourassa

  2. Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, 38677, USA

    Erick A. Bourassa & Robert C. Speth

  3. Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA

    Kristen A. Stedenfeld & Alan F. Sved

  4. College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, 3200 S. University Dr., Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328, USA

    Robert C. Speth

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  1. Erick A. Bourassa
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  2. Kristen A. Stedenfeld
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  3. Alan F. Sved
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  4. Robert C. Speth
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Erick A. Bourassa, Alan F. Sved or Robert C. Speth.

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All of the animal procedures used in this study were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees of the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Mississippi.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest in this research.

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Special Issue: Lynn Wecker.

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Bourassa, E.A., Stedenfeld, K.A., Sved, A.F. et al. Selective C1 Lesioning Slightly Decreases Angiotensin II Type I Receptor Expression in the Rat Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla (RVLM). Neurochem Res 40, 2113–2120 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-015-1649-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-015-1649-3

Keywords

  • Rostral ventrolateral medulla
  • RVLM
  • C1 adrenergic neurons
  • AT1 angiotensin
  • Receptors
  • Radioligand binding
  • Receptor autoradiography
  • Rat brain