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Specific alterations in cardiovascular function and in glucose utilisation within lower brainstem nuclei following
I M Macrae1, D Dewar, J L Reid
1University Department of Materia Medica, Stobhill General Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
Abstract:
In the conscious normotensive rat, intracisternal neuropeptide Y (NPY) (1.25 nmol i.c.) gave rise to alterations in peripheral haemodynamic variables and glucose use within discrete areas of the CNS as measured by [14C]2-deoxyglucose autoradiography. The haemodynamic response to i.c. NPY comprised a transient hypertension followed by a prolonged hypotension and bradycardia. These cardiovascular responses to NPY were accompanied by a significant reduction in function related glucose use in the area postrema (-29% from vehicle-injected controls), nucleus tractus solitarius (caudal portion -24%, rostral portion -19%), Kolliker-Fuse nucleus (-14%), inferior colliculus (-18%) and subfornical organ (-19%). It is proposed that the area postrema, nucleus tractus solitarius and Kolliker-Fuse nucleus in the brainstem are involved functionally in the haemodynamic response to i.c. NPY.