Differential roles for glutamate receptor subtypes within commissural NTS in cardiac-sympathetic reflex

Ischemic stimulation of cardiac receptors evokes excitatory sympathetic reflexes. Although the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) is an important site for integration of visceral afferents, its involvement in the cardiac-renal sympathetic reflex remains to be fully defined. This study examined the role of glutamate receptor subtypes in the commissural NTS in the sympathetic responses to stimulation of cardiac receptors. Renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) was recorded in anesthetized rats. Cardiac receptors were stimulated by epicardial application of bradykinin (BK; 10 microg/ml). Application of BK significantly increased the mean arterial pressure from 78.2 +/- 2.2 to 97.5 +/- 2.9 mmHg and augmented RSNA by 38.5 +/- 2.5% (P < 0.05). Bilateral microinjection of 10 pmol of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, a non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist, into the commissural NTS eliminated the pressor and RSNA responses to BK application in 10 rats. However, microinjection of 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (0.1 and 1 nmol, n = 8), an NMDA- receptor antagonist, or alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (0.1 and 1 nmol, n = 5), a glutamate metabotropic receptor antagonist, failed to attenuate significantly the pressor and RSNA responses to stimulation of cardiac receptors with BK. Thus this study suggests that non-NMDA, but not NMDA and glutamate metabotropic, receptors in the commissural NTS play an important role in the sympathoexcitatory reflex response to activation of cardiac receptors during myocardial ischemia.