Journal of the American Society of Hypertension
Volume 2, Issue 5 , Pages 326-331, September 2008

Subfornical organ mediates pressor effect of angiotensin: Influence of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors, AT1 and AT2 angiotensin antagonist's receptors

  • Wilson Abrão Saad, MD

      Affiliations

    • Basic Institute of Biosciences-UNITAU, Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil
    • Department of Exact and Natural Science UNIARA Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
    • Department of Physiology and Pathology School of Dentistry, Paulista State University, UNESP Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
    • Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author: Wilson Abrão Saad, MD, Department of Physiology and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Paulista State University, UNESP, Rua Humaitá, 1680, 14801-903-Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil. Tel: +55(16) 3301 6488; fax: +55(16) 3322 0836
  • ,
  • Luiz Antonio de Arruda Camargo

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physiology and Pathology School of Dentistry, Paulista State University, UNESP Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
    • Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
  • ,
  • Ismael Francisco Motta Siqueira Guarda, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anesthesiology Clinic Hospital State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
  • ,
  • Talmir Augusto Faria Brizola dos Santos

      Affiliations

    • Basic Institute of Biosciences-UNITAU, Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil

Received 19 February 2008; accepted 10 April 2008. published online 24 June 2008.

Abstract 

We investigated the influence of voltage-dependent calcium channels and nitric oxide (NO) on angiotensin II (ANG II)-pressor effect injected into subfornical organ (SFO). The influence of NO on nifedipine antipressor action has also been studied by utilizing NW-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (20 μg × 0.2 μl−1) a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (NOSI) and 7-nitroindazole (7-NIT) (20 μg × 0.2 μl−1), a specific neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (nNOSI). We have also investigated the role of losartan and PD123319, selective ANG II AT1 and AT2 receptor nonpeptide antagonists, in the pressor effect of ANG II and in the effect of L-NAME and 7-NIT, injected into the SFO. Adult male Holtzman rats (220 to 280 g) were anesthetized with ketamine (80 mg/kg−1 of body weight) plus xylazine (7 mg/kg−1 of body weight), placed in a stereotaxic apparatus (David Kopf model for rats), and implanted with cannula into the SFO. Direct mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was recorded in conscious rats in a test cage, without access to food or water. The previously implanted catheter into femoral artery was connected to a Statham (P23 Db) pressure transducer (Statham-Gould, Valley View, OH) coupled to a multichannel recorder (PowerLab Multirecord). MAP increased after ANG II injection. Pre-treatment with nifidipine (50 μg × 0.2 μl−1 or 100 μg × 0.2 μl−1) followed by 25 pmol × 0.2 μl−1 of ANG II, decreased ANG II-pressor effect. L-NAME and 7-NIT increased the elevation in MAP induced by ANG II, which was blocked by the prior injection of nifedipine. The AT1 angiotensin antagonist losartan injected into the SFO blocked the effect of ANG II and the effects of L-NAME and 7-NIT while PD123319 did not. These results provide evidence that ANG II-pressor effect is influenced by nitrergic pathways that utilize L-type calcium channels in the SFO.

Keywords: Angiotensin II, calcium channel, central nervous system, blood pressure

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 This study was supported by CNPq, FAPESP, FUNADESP-UNIARA, PRONEX, and FUNDUNESP.

 Conflict of interest: none.

PII: S1933-1711(08)00051-X

doi:10.1016/j.jash.2008.04.007

Journal of the American Society of Hypertension
Volume 2, Issue 5 , Pages 326-331, September 2008