Hypothalamic blood flow autoregulation remains unaltered following surgical and pharmacological blockade of central vasopressin

Effects of Estrogen and Progrestin on Hypothalamic Blood Flow Autoregulation

OBJECTIVES

The consequences of female sex hormone deficiency and the effects of hormone replacement therapy are controversial because individual hormones and their derivates can result in partially antagonistic activities. This intricate system involving cerebral autoregulatory mechanisms caused by ovariectomy and female sex hormone replacement was studied in rats.

METHODS

The lower limit of cerebral blood flow autoregulation was determined by stepwise reduction of systemic arterial pressure while simultaneously measuring the changes of the hypothalamic blood flow (HBF) using the hydrogen gas-clearance method.

RESULTS

In ovariectomized rats resting HBF decreased substantially and the threshold of cerebrovascular autoregulation decreased to 40 mm Hg. Estrogen replacement prevents the former change and shifts the latter upwards. Similarly, progestin replacement restores autoregulation to the physiological levels found in control animals, whereas it has no influence on the ovariectomy-induced reduction of resting blood flow.

CONCLUSIONS

Steady-state HBF and compensatory changes of regional cerebral vascular autoregulation are altered significantly following ovariectomy. Estrogen or progestin replacement has an opposite effect on these cerebral circulatory parameters. Our observations highlight the essential role of female sex hormones in hypothalamic autoregulation during hypotensive stress.

Interaction between arginine vasopressin and angiotensin II receptors in the central regulation of sodium balance

We speculated that the influence of lateral preoptic area (LPO) in sodium balance, involves arginine8-vasopressin (AVP) and angiotensin (ANG II) on Na+ uptake in LPO. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of central administration of specific AVP and ANG II antagonists (d(CH2)5-Tyr (Me)-AVP (AAVP) and [Adamanteanacetyl1, 0-ET-d-Tyr2, Val4, Aminobutyryl6, Arg(8,9)]-AVP (ATAVP) antagonists of V1 and V2 receptors of AVP. Also the effects of losartan and CGP42112A (selective ligands of the AT1 and AT2 angiotensin receptors, respectively), was investigated on Na+ uptake and renal fluid and electrolyte excretion. After an acclimatization period of 7 days, the animals were maintained under tribromoethanol (200 mg/kg body weight, intraperitonial) anesthesia and placed in a Kopf stereotaxic instrument. Stainless guide cannula was implanted into the LPO. AAVP and ATAVP injected into the LPO prior to AVP produced a reduction in the NaCl intake. Both the AT1 and AT2 ligands administered into the LPO elicited a decrease in the NaCl intake induced by AVP injected into the LPO. AVP injection into the LPO increased sodium renal excretion, but this was reduced by prior AAVP administration. The ATAVP produced a decreased in the natriuretic effect of AVP. The losartan injected into LPO previous to AVP decreased the sodium excretion and the CGP 421122A also decreased the natriuretic effect of AVP. The AVP produced an antidiuresis effect that was inhibited by prior administration into LPO of the ATAVP. The AAVP produced no change in the antidiuretic effect of AVP. These results suggest that LPO are implicated in sodium balance that is mediated by V1, V2, AT1 and AT2 receptors.

Influence of arginine vasopressin receptors and angiotensin receptor subtypes on the water intake and arterial blood pressure induced by vasopressin injected into the lateral septal area of the rat

In this study we investigated the influence of d(CH2)5-Tyr(Me)-[Arg8]vasopressin (AAVP) and [adamanteanacetyl1,0-ET-d-Tyr2,Val4,aminobutyryl6,Arg8,9]-[Arg8]vasopressin (ATAVP), which are antagonists of vasopressin V1 and V2 receptors, and the effects of losartan, a selective angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist, and CGP42112A, a selective AT2 receptor antagonist, injected into the lateral septal area (LSA) on thirst and hypertension induced by [Arg8]vasopressin (AVP). AAVP and ATAVP injected into the LSA reduced the drinking responses elicited by injecting AVP into the LSA. Both the AT1 and AT2 ligands administered into the LSA elicited a concentration-dependent decrease in the water intake induced by AVP injected into the LSA, but losartan was more effective than CGP42112A. The increase in MAP, due to injection of AVP into the LSA, was reduced by prior injection of AAVP from 18 +/- 1 to 6 +/- 1 mm Hg. Losartan injected into the LSA prior to AVP reduced the increase in MAP to 7 +/- 0.8 mm Hg. ATAVP and CGP42112A produced no changes in the pressor effect of AVP. These results suggest that the dipsogenic effects induced by injecting AVP into the LSA were mediated primarily by AT1 receptors. However, doses of losartan were more effective when combined with CGP42112A than when given alone, suggesting that the thirst induced by AVP injections into LSA may involve activation of multiple AVP and angiotensin II receptor subtypes. The pressor response of AVP was reduced by losartan and by AAVP. CGP42112A and ATAVP did not change the AVP pressor response. These results suggest that facilitator effects of AVP on water intake are mediated through the activation of V1 receptors and that the inhibitory effect requires V2 receptors. The involvement of AT1 and AT2 receptors can be postulated. Based on the present findings, we suggest that the AVP in the LSA may play a role in the control of water and arterial blood pressure balance.

Effects of V1 and angiotensin receptor subtypes of the paraventricular nucleus on the water intake induced by vasopressin injected into the lateral septal area

In this study, we investigated the influence of d(CH(2))(5)-Tyr (Me)-AVP (AAVP) an antagonist of V(1) receptors of arginine(8)-vasopressin (AVP) and the effects of losartan and CGP42112A (selective ligands of the AT(1) and AT(2) angiotensin receptors, respectively) injections into the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) on the thirst effects of AVP stimulation of the lateral septal area (LSA). AVP injection into the LSA increased the water intake in a dose-dependent manner. AAVP injected into the PVN produced a dose-dependent reduction of the drinking responses elicited by LSA administration of AVP. Both the AT(1) and AT(2) ligands administered into the PVN elicited a concentration-dependent inhibition in the water intake induced by AVP injected into the LSA, but losartan was more effective than CGP42112A the increase in the AVP response. These results indicate that LSA dipsogenic effects induced by AVP are mediated primarily by PVN AT(1) receptors. However, doses of losartan were more effective when combined with CGP42112A than when given alone, suggesting that the thirst induced by AVP injections into LSA may involve activation of multiple angiotensin II (ANG II) receptor subtypes. These results also suggests that facilitatory effects of AVP on water intake into the LSA are mediated through the activation of V(1)-receptors and that the inhibitory effect requires V(2)-receptors. Based on the present findings, we suggest that the administration of AVP into the LSA may play a role in the PVN control of water control.

Hypothalamic blood flow remains unaltered following chronic nitric oxide synthase blockade in rats

The effect of the chronic oral application of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a potent inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) production, was studied on hypothalamic blood flow (HBF) and hypothalamic nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in rats. L-NAME was dissolved in the drinking water, in a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml, and was administered for 1 week. In the chronic L-NAME pretreated animals significantly reduced hypothalamic NOS activity and marked hypothalamic vasoconstriction were observed, the latter of which was counteracted by sustained systemic arterial hypertension, while HBF remained unchanged. The present model of chronic NOS blockade may be useful to assess the physiological functions of NO in the regulation of cerebral blood flow in the normally perfused brain.