Catechol and indole metabolism in rostral ventrolateral medulla change synchronously with changing blood pressure

Catechol and indole metabolism in rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM or C1) was studied in response to changes in blood pressure across different rat strains. Sprague-Dawley, Wistar Kyoto normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats were anesthetized with urethane and had a 250 mu carbon paste in vivo electrochemical electrode implanted in RVLM area. Two electrochemical peaks were detected in this region. The first was at 0.12 V and the second at 0.28 V. To identify the electrochemical peaks, inhibitors of monoamine metabolism were administrated. alpha-Methylparatyrosine (tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor), fusaric acid (dopamine-beta-hydroxylase inhibitor), pargyline (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) and LY 134046 (phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase inhibitor) showed that the first peak measured in the RVLM is likely to have multiple components including epinephrine, norepinephrine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. The second peak most likely represents 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid. Phenylephrine or nitroprusside was infused to increase or decrease the blood pressure. Phenylephrine-induced hypertension reduced the catechol peak and increased the indole peak. By contrast, nitroprusside-induced hypotension produced reciprocal results. Hypotension led to an increase in the catechol peak and a reduction in the indole peak. The same pattern was observed in all three rat strains. We conclude that catechol and serotonin metabolism in RVLM changes in close relation to changes in blood pressure.