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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Stress Research

Background:

  • Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is vital for stress appraisal and autonomic regulation.
  • Prolonged stress impairs mPFC function and can lead to autonomic imbalance.
  • The infralimbic cortex (IL) within the mPFC may prevent stress-induced autonomic imbalance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the IL in regulating hemodynamic, vascular, and cardiac responses to chronic stress.
  • To test if IL glutamate release prevents chronic stress-induced autonomic imbalance and cardiovascular pathophysiology.

Main Methods:

  • Used viral vectors to knockdown vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (vGluT1) in the IL of male rats.
  • Compared unstressed and chronically stressed rats with and without IL vGluT1 knockdown.
  • Assessed heart rate, mean arterial pressure, vasoreactivity, and cardiac tissue histology.

Main Results:

  • IL vGluT1 knockdown increased heart rate and mean arterial pressure reactivity.
  • Chronic stress elevated mean arterial pressure only in rats with IL vGluT1 knockdown.
  • Combined stress and vGluT1 knockdown impaired vasoreactivity and increased cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy.

Conclusions:

  • Glutamate release from IL projection neurons is essential for preventing exaggerated physiological responses to stress.
  • These findings identify a neurobiological mechanism linking stress to cardiovascular disease.
  • Targeting IL glutamate pathways may offer a strategy to mitigate stress-related cardiovascular risks.