Effect of neuropeptide Y on the sympathetic contraction of the rabbit central ear artery during cooling

Paradoxical effects of acidosis on the noradrenaline-induced and neurogenic constriction of the rat tail artery at low temperatures

Although vasodilatation evoked by acidosis at normal body temperature is well known, the reports regarding effect of acidosis on the reactivity of the isolated arteries at low temperatures are nonexistent. This study tested the hypothesis that the inhibitory effect of acidosis on the neurogenic vasoconstriction may be increased by cooling. Using wire myography, we recorded the neurogenic contraction of the rat tail artery segments to the electrical field stimulation in the absence and in the presence of 0.03-10.0 µmol/L noradrenaline. The experiments were conducted at 37 °C or 25 °C and pH 7.4 or 6.6 which was decreased by means of CO₂. Noradrenaline at concentration of 0.03-0.1 µmol/L significantly potentiated the neurogenic vasoconstriction at 25 °C, and the potentiation was not inhibited by acidosis. Contrary to our hypothesis, acidosis at a low temperature did not affect the noradrenaline-induced tone and significantly increased the neurogenic contraction of the artery segments in the absence and presence of noradrenaline. These effects of acidosis were partly dependent on the endothelium and L-type Ca²⁺ channels activation. The phenomenon described for the first time might be of importance for the reduction in the heat loss by virtue of decrease in the subcutaneous blood flow at low ambient temperatures.

Sympathetic control of reflex cutaneous vasoconstriction in human aging

This Synthesis highlights a series of recent studies that has systematically interrogated age-related deficits in cold-induced skin vasoconstriction. In response to cold stress, a reflex increase in sympathetic nervous system activity mediates reductions in skin blood flow. Reflex vasoconstriction during cold exposure is markedly impaired in aged skin, contributing to the relative inability of healthy older adults to maintain core temperature during mild cold stress in the absence of appropriate behavioral thermoregulation. This compromised reflex cutaneous vasoconstriction in healthy aging can occur as a result of functional deficits at multiple points along the efferent sympathetic reflex axis, including blunted sympathetic outflow directed to the skin vasculature, reduced presynaptic neurotransmitter synthesis and/or release, and altered end-organ responsiveness at several loci, in addition to potential alterations in afferent thermoreceptor function. Arguments have been made that the relative inability of aged skin to appropriately constrict is due to the aging cutaneous arterioles themselves, whereas other data point to the neural circuitry controlling those vessels. The argument presented herein provides strong evidence for impaired efferent sympathetic control of the peripheral cutaneous vasculature during whole body cold exposure as the primary mechanism responsible for attenuated vasoconstriction.

Role of neuropeptide Y and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α in stress cardiomyopathy

Death following situations of intense emotional stress has been linked to the cardiac pathology described as stress cardiomyopathy, whose pathomechanism is still not clear. In this study, we sought to determine, via an animal model, whether the transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1α) and the amino peptide neuropeptide Y (NPY) play a role in the pathogenesis of this cardiac entity. Male Sprague-Dawley rats in the experimental group were subjected to immobilization in a plexy glass box for 1 h, which was followed by low voltage electric foot shock for about 1 h at 10 s intervals in a cage fitted with metallic rods. After 25 days the rats were sacrificed and sections of their hearts were processed. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of cardiac tissues revealed the characteristic cardiac lesions of stress cardiomyopathy such as contraction band necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis. The semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis for PGC-1α mRNA expression showed significant overexpression of PGC1-α in the stress-subjected rats (P<0.05). Fluorescence immunohistochemistry revealed a higher production of NPY in the stress-subjected rats as compared to the control rats (P=0.0027). Thus, we are led to conclude that following periods of intense stress, an increased expression of PGC1-α in the heart and an overflow of NPY may lead to stress cardiomyopathy and even death in susceptible victims. Moreover, these markers can be used to identify stress cardiomyopathy as the cause of sudden death in specific cases.

The effect of cooling on the contractility of equine digital small lamellar arteries: modulating role of the endothelium

The equine hoof displays thermoregulatory functions, and the blood vessels lying under the hoof wall are temperature sensitive. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cooling on the contractile responses to α-adrenoceptor and 5-HT receptor stimulation in equine small lamellar arteries using wire myography. The role of the endothelium in the response mediated by 5-HT was also evaluated. Moderate cooling caused a reduction of the contraction induced by depolarizing Krebs solution (DKS, containing 118 mm KCl) and the maximal contraction caused by UK-14304 (α(2)-adrenoceptor agonist). The potency of methoxamine (α(1)-adrenoceptor agonist) was reduced by cooling [pD(2) (-log EC(50)) at 22°C, 5.7 (5.5-6.0) versus 30°C, 5.9 (5.7-6.1)]; however, the efficacy was maintained. The contractions evoked by sumatripan and α-methyl 5-HT (5-HT receptor agonists) were not modified by moderate cooling. In contrast, a cooling-enhanced contraction was observed in response to 5-HT [maximum response (E(max)) at 22°C, 213.2 ± 13% DKS versus 30°C, 179.9 ± 11% DKS]. Furthermore, this effect was more evident in endothelium-denuded lamellar arteries (E(max) at 22°C, 270.2 ± 26% DKS versus 30°C, 172.2 ± 20% DKS), suggesting a potential modulating role of the endothelium. The L-NAME/ibuprofen-resistant relaxation in response to carbachol was reduced by cooling in small lamellar arteries precontracted with 5-HT but not phenylephrine. Therefore, a moderate reduction of temperature modulates the reactivity of small lamellar arteries by enhancing the 5-HT-mediated contraction, but inhibits the α-adrenoceptor-mediated response. Furthermore, the endothelium of these blood vessels may play an important role in preventing excessive vasoconstriction in response to 5-HT and maintaining digital blood flow in cool environmental temperatures.

Role of alpha2C-adrenoceptors in the reduction of skin blood flow induced by local cooling in mice

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The reduction of skin blood flow induced by local cooling results from a reflex increase in sympathetic output and an enhanced vasoconstrictor activity of cutaneous vessels. The present study investigated the latter local response in vivo in tetrodotoxin-treated mice, in which the sympathetic nerve tone was abolished.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Male ddY mice, anaesthetized with pentobarbitone, were treated with tetrodotoxin and artificially ventilated. The plantar skin blood flow (PSBF) was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry.

KEY RESULTS

Cooling the air temperature around the left foot from 25 to 10 degrees C decreased the PSBF of the left foot. Bunazosin, an alpha (1)-adrenoceptor antagonist, RS79948, an alpha (2)-adrenoceptor antagonist, and MK-912, an alpha (2C)-adrenoceptor antagonist, all significantly inhibited the cooling-induced reduction of PSBF; the inhibition by bunazosin was relatively small compared with that by RS79948 and MK-912. The response was not affected by guanethidine or bretylium, but was diminished in adrenalectomized mice. An intra-arterial injection of clonidine, an alpha (2)-adrenoceptor agonist, to the left iliac artery of adrenalectomized mice caused a transient decrease in PSBF, which was significantly augmented at 10 degrees C. MK-912 suppressed only the augmented portion at 10 degrees C. Y-27632, H-1152 and fasudil, Rho kinase inhibitors, also inhibited the cooling-induced reduction of PSBF. RS79948 caused no further reduction of the cooling-induced response after the inhibition by Y-27632.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Local cooling-induced reduction of skin blood flow in mice primarily results from increased reactivity of alpha (2C)-adrenoceptors to circulating catecholamines, in which the Rho/Rho kinase pathway is involved.

Relative roles of local and reflex components in cutaneous vasoconstriction during skin cooling in humans

The reduction in skin blood flow (SkBF) with cold exposure is partly due to the reflex vasoconstrictor response from whole body cooling (WBC) and partly to the direct effects of local cooling (LC). Although these have been examined independently, little is known regarding their roles when acting together, as occurs in environmental cooling. We tested the hypothesis that the vasoconstrictor response to combined LC and WBC would be additive, i.e., would equal the sum of their independent effects. We further hypothesized that LC would attenuate the reflex vasoconstrictor response to WBC. We studied 16 (7 women, 9 men) young (30.5+/-2 yr) healthy volunteers. LC and WBC were accomplished with metal Peltier cooler-heater probe holders and water-perfused suits, respectively. Forearm SkBF was monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF). Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated as LDF/blood pressure. Subjects underwent 15 min of LC alone or 15 min of WBC with and without simultaneous LC, either at equal levels (34-31 degrees C) or as equipotent stimuli (34-28 degrees C LC; 34-31 degrees C WBC). The fall in CVC with combined WBC and LC was greater (P<0.05) than for either alone (57.0+/-5% combined vs. 39.2+/-6% WBC; 34.4+/-4% LC) with equipotent cooling, but it was only significantly greater than for LC alone with equal levels of cooling (51.3+/-8% combined vs. 29.5+/-4% LC). The sum of the independent effects of WBC and LC was greater than their combined effects (74.9+/-4 vs. 51.3+/-8% equal and 73.6+/-7 vs. 57.0+/-5% equipotent; P<0.05). The fall in CVC with WBC at LC sites was reduced compared with control sites (17.6+/-2 vs. 42.4+/-8%; P<0.05). Hence, LC contributes importantly to the reduction in SkBF with body cooling, but also suppresses the reflex response, resulting in a nonadditive effect of these two components.

Attenuated noradrenergic sensitivity during local cooling in aged human skin

Reflex-mediated cutaneous vasoconstriction (VC) is impaired in older humans; however, it is unclear whether this blunted VC also occurs during local cooling, which mediates VC through different mechanisms. We tested the hypothesis that the sensitization of cutaneous vessels to noradrenaline (NA) during direct skin cooling seen in young skin is blunted in aged skin. In 11 young (18-30 years) and 11 older (62-76 years) men and women, skin blood flow was monitored at two forearm sites with laser Doppler (LD) flowmetry while local skin temperature was cooled and clamped at 24 degrees C. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC; LD flux/mean arterial pressure) was expressed as percentage change from baseline (% DeltaCVC(base)). At one site, five doses of NA (10(-10)-10(-2) m) were sequentially infused via intradermal microdialysis during cooling while the other 24 degrees C site served as control (Ringer solution + cooling). At control sites, VC due to cooling alone was similar in young versus older (-54 +/- 5 versus -56 +/- 3% DeltaCVC(base), P = 0.46). In young, NA infusions induced additional dose-dependent VC (10(-8), 10(-6), 10(-4) and 10(-2) m: -70 +/- 2, -72 +/- 3, -78 +/- 3 and -79 +/- 4% DeltaCVC(base); P < 0.05 versus control). In older subjects, further VC did not occur until the highest infused dose of NA (10(-2) m: -70 +/- 5% DeltaCVC(base); P < 0.05 versus control). When cutaneous arterioles are sensitized to NA by direct cooling, young skin exhibits the capacity to further constrict to NA in a dose-dependent manner. However, older skin does not display enhanced VC capacity until treated with saturating doses of NA, possibly due to age-associated decrements in Ca2+ availability or alpha2C-adrenoceptor function.

Altered neurotransmitter control of reflex vasoconstriction in aged human skin

Cutaneous vasoconstriction (VC) in response to cooling is attenuated in older humans; however, mechanisms underlying this functional decline remain unclear. The present study tested the hypothesis that the contributions of noradrenaline (NA) and sympathetic cotransmitters to reflex-mediated cutaneous VC are altered with age. In 11 young (18-26 years) and 11 older (61-77 years) men and women, forearm skin blood flow was monitored at three sites using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) while mean skin temperature was lowered from 34 to 30.5 degrees C using a water-perfused suit. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC; LDF/mean arterial pressure) was expressed as percentage change from baseline (% DeltaCVC(base)). Solutions of yohimbine + propranolol (Y + P), bretylium tosylate (BT), and lactated Ringer solution were infused via intradermal microdialysis at each LDF site to antagonize alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors, block sympathetic release of NA and cotransmitters, and act as control, respectively. During cooling, VC was attenuated at the control site in older subjects compared to young subjects (-16 +/- 3 versus-34 +/- 4% DeltaCVC(base), P < 0.001). Y + P attenuated VC in young subjects (-13 +/- 8% DeltaCVC(base), P < 0.001 versus control) and abolished VC in older subjects (0 +/- 3% DeltaCVC(base), P > 0.9 versus baseline). BT completely blocked VC in both age groups. Cutaneous VC in young subjects is mediated by both NA and sympathetic cotransmitter(s); however, reflex VC in aged skin is attenuated compared to young and appears to be mediated solely by NA.

Pharmacology of neuropeptide Y receptor antagonists. Focus on cardiovascular functions

Neuropeptide Y is one of the most abundant mammalian neuropeptides identified to date. The possible actions of neuropeptide Y, that is co-localized and released with noradrenaline, as a sympathetic co-transmitter has attracted much attention during the last decade. In recent years, several non-peptide antagonists with high subtype selectivity for neuropeptide Y receptors have been introduced. With them, the status of neuropeptide Y as a sympathetic transmitter has been established, and so have profound cardiovascular effects mediated by neuropeptide Y Y(1) and Y(2) receptors. Significant release of neuropeptide Y occurs especially upon stronger sympathetic activation, and recent data suggest that the importance of neuropeptide Y seems enhanced in stress-related cardiovascular disorders. The true significance of neuropeptide Y has thus started to unfold, owing to the presence of the first generation of selective neuropeptide Y receptor antagonists. This review concerns the pharmacology of these agents, what we have learnt from them, and might find out in the future.