Catecholamines and vasopressin in hindbrain nuclei of hypertension prone and resistant rats

Norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations in the caudal and rostral part of the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and in locus coeruleus (LC) of Sabra hypertension prone (SBH) rats are 2-4-fold higher than in the parent Sabra (SB) strain; SB rats have higher concentrations than the Sabra hypertension resistant (SBN) rats. Dopamine concentrations were higher in SBH as compared to SB and SBN rats only in the caudal NTS. Vasopressin concentrations in the NTS of SBH were 3-fold higher than the levels found in SB or SBN rats. These data suggest that catecholamines and vasopressin in specific brainstem nuclei are involved in either the pathogenesis or central response to hypertension in SBH rats.