(In)activity-related neuroplasticity in brainstem control of sympathetic outflow: unraveling underlying molecular, cellular, and anatomical mechanisms

Brain correlates and functional connectivity linking stress, autonomic dysregulation, and alcohol motivation

High stress is a key risk factor for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and often accompanied by physiological dysregulation including autonomic nervous system (ANS) disruptions. However, neural mechanisms underlying drinking behaviors associated with stress and ANS disruptions remain unclear. The current study aims to understand neural correlates of stress, ANS disruptions, and subsequent alcohol intake in social drinkers with risky drinking. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated brain and heart rate (HR) autonomic responses during brief exposure to stress, alcohol, and neutral cues utilizing a well-validated, individualized imagery paradigm in 48 social drinkers of which 26 reported high-risk drinking (HD) while 22 reported low-risk drinking (LD) patterns. Results indicated that HD individuals showed stress and ANS disruptions with increased basal HR, stress-induced craving, and decreased brain response to stress exposure in frontal-striatal regions including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VmPFC), anterior cingulate cortex, striatum, insula, and temporal gyrus. Furthermore, whole-brain correlation analysis indicated that greater basal HR was associated with hypoactive VmPFC, but hyperactive medulla oblongata (MOb) responses during stress, with an inverse association between activity in the VmPFC and Mob (whole-brain corrected (WBC), p < 0.05). Functional connectivity with the MOb as a seed to the whole brain indicated that HD versus LD had decreased functional connectivity between the VmPFC and MOb during stress (WBC, p < 0.05). In addition, those with more compromised functional connectivity between the VmPFC and MOb during stress consumed greater amount of alcohol beverage during an experimental alcohol taste test conducted on a separate day, as well as in their self-reported weekly alcohol intake. Together, these results indicate that stress-related, dysfunctional VmPFC control over brain regions of autonomic arousal contributes to greater alcohol motivation and may be a significant risk factor for hazardous alcohol use in non-dependent social drinkers. Findings also suggest that restoring VmPFC integrity in modulating autonomic arousal during stress may be critical for preventing the development of AUD.

Inhibition of NMDA Receptor Activation in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla by Amyloid-β Peptide in Rats

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, a subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptors, are important in regulating sympathetic tone and cardiovascular function in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). Amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) is linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cerebro- and cardiovascular diseases might be the risk factors for developing AD. The present study examines the acute effects of soluble Aβ on the function of NMDA receptors in rats RVLM. We used the magnitude of increases in the blood pressure (pressor responses) induced by microinjection of NMDA into the RVLM as an index of NMDA receptor function in the RVLM. Soluble Aβ was applied by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection. Aβ1-40 at a lower dose (0.2 nmol) caused a slight reduction, and a higher dose (2 nmol) showed a significant decrease in NMDA-induced pressor responses 10 min after administration. ICV injection of Aβ1-42 (2 nmol) did not affect NMDA-induced pressor responses in the RVLM. Co-administration of Aβ1-40 with ifenprodil or memantine blocked the inhibitory effects of Aβ1-40. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed a significant increase in the immunoreactivity of phosphoserine 1480 of GluN2B subunits (pGluN2B-serine1480) in the neuron of the RVLM without significant changes in phosphoserine 896 of GluN1 subunits (pGluN1-serine896), GluN1 and GluN2B, 10 min following Aβ1-40 administration compared with saline. Interestingly, we found a much higher level of Aβ1-40 compared to that of Aβ1-42 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay 10 min following ICV administration of the same dose (2 nmol) of the peptides. In conclusion, the results suggest that ICV Aβ1-40, but not Aβ1-42, produced an inhibitory effect on NMDA receptor function in the RVLM, which might result from changes in pGluN2B-serine1480 (regulated by casein kinase II). The different elimination of the peptides in the CSF might contribute to the differential effects of Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 on NMDA receptor function.

Autonomic failure: Clinicopathologic, physiologic, and genetic aspects

Over the past century, generations of neuroscientists, pathologists, and clinicians have elucidated the underlying causes of autonomic failure found in neurodegenerative, inherited, and antibody-mediated autoimmune disorders, each with pathognomonic clinicopathologic features. Autonomic failure affects central autonomic nervous system components in the α-synucleinopathy, multiple system atrophy, characterized clinically by levodopa-unresponsive parkinsonism or cerebellar ataxia, and pathologically by argyrophilic glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs). Two other central neurodegenerative disorders, pure autonomic failure characterized clinically by deficits in norepinephrine synthesis and release from peripheral sympathetic nerve terminals; and Parkinson's disease, with early and widespread autonomic deficits independent of the loss of striatal dopamine terminals, both express Lewy pathology. The rare congenital disorder, hereditary sensory, and autonomic neuropathy type III (or Riley-Day, familial dysautonomia) causes life-threatening autonomic failure due to a genetic mutation that results in loss of functioning baroreceptors, effectively separating afferent mechanosensing neurons from the brain. Autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy caused by autoantibodies targeting ganglionic α3-acetylcholine receptors instead presents with subacute isolated autonomic failure affecting sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric nervous system function in various combinations. This chapter is an overview of these major autonomic disorders with an emphasis on their historical background, neuropathological features, etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.

Multimodal Benefits of Exercise in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis and COVID-19

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease characterized by plaque formation and neuroinflammation. The plaques can present in various locations, causing a variety of clinical symptoms in patients with MS. Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is also associated with systemic inflammation and a cytokine storm which can cause plaque formation in several areas of the brain. These concurring events could exacerbate the disease burden of MS. We review the neuro-invasive properties of SARS-CoV-2 and the possible pathways for the entry of the virus into the central nervous system (CNS). Complications due to this viral infection are similar to those occurring in patients with MS. Conditions related to MS which make patients more susceptible to viral infection include inflammatory status, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, function of CNS cells, and plaque formation. There are also psychoneurological and mood disorders associated with both MS and COVID-19 infections. Finally, we discuss the effects of exercise on peripheral and central inflammation, BBB integrity, glia and neural cells, and remyelination. We conclude that moderate exercise training prior or after infection with SARS-CoV-2 can produce health benefits in patients with MS patients, including reduced mortality and improved physical and mental health of patients with MS.

Sedentary Conditions Promote Subregionally Specific Changes in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla

A sedentary lifestyle is the top preventable cause of death and accounts for substantial socioeconomic costs to society. The rostral ventrolateral medulla regulates blood pressure under normal and pathophysiological states, and demonstrates inactivity-related structural and functional neuroplasticity, which is subregionally specific. The purpose of this study was to examine pro- and mature forms of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and their respective receptors in the male rat rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and its rostral extension following sedentary vs. active (running wheels) conditions (10–12weeks). We used subregionally specific Western blotting to determine that the mature form of BDNF and its ratio to its pro-form were lower in more caudal subregions of the rostral ventrolateral medulla of sedentary rats but higher in the rostral extension when both were compared to active rats. The full-length form of the tropomyosin receptor kinase B receptor and the non-glycosylated form of the 75 kilodalton neurotrophin receptor were lower in sedentary compared to active rats. The rostrocaudal patterns of expression of the mature form of BDNF and the full-length form of the tropomyosin receptor kinase B receptor were remarkably similar to the subregionally specific patterns of enhanced dendritic branching, neuronal activity, and glutamate-mediated increases in sympathetic nerve activity observed in previous studies performed in sedentary rats. Our studies suggest signaling pathways related to BDNF within subregions of both the rostral ventrolateral medulla and its rostral extension contribute to cardiovascular disease and premature death related to a sedentary lifestyle.

Differential shifts in baroreflex control of renal and lumbar sympathetic nerve activity induced by freezing behaviour in rats

NEW FINDINGS

What is the central question of this study? Is the arterial baroreflex involved in causing patterned, region-specific changes in sympathetic nerve activity during freezing behaviour in conscious rats? What is the main finding and its importance? Freezing behaviour is accompanied by differential shifts in the baroreflex control of renal and lumbar sympathetic nerve activity and heart rate. It is noteworthy that baroreflex pathways may be discretely separated, allowing differential modification of baroreflex curves that may generate differential changes in sympathetic nerve activity during freezing behaviour.

ABSTRACT

The present study was designed to test whether the baroreflex stimulus-response curves for renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), lumbar sympathetic nerve activity (LSNA) and heart rate (HR) were shifted in a regionally specific manner during freezing behaviour in conscious rats. Male Wistar rats were chronically instrumented with electrodes and arterial and venous catheters for measurement of RSNA, LSNA and electrocardiogram. After a 60-min control period, freezing behaviour in conscious rats was induced by exposure to loud white noise (90 dB) for 10 min. The baroreflex curves for RSNA, LSNA and HR were generated by changing systemic arterial pressure using rapid intravenous infusions of vasoactive drugs and then fitted to an inverse sigmoid function curve. During the freezing behaviour, the baroreflex curve for RSNA was expanded upward with a significant (P < 0.001) increase (by 153% compared with the control level) in the upper plateau (maximum capacity of RSNA drive), whereas the baroreflex curve for LSNA remained unchanged. Conversely, the baroreflex curve for HR was shifted leftward with a significant (P = 0.004) decrease (by 11 mmHg relative to the control level) in the midpoint pressure. Our results indicate that baroreflex curve shifts for RSNA, LSNA and HR occur in a regionally specific manner during freezing behaviour. This indicates that baroreflex pathways may be discretely separated, allowing differential modification of baroreflex curves that may generate differential changes in sympathetic nerve activity during freezing behaviour.

The organ-specific nitric oxide synthase activity in the interaction with sympathetic nerve activity: a hypothesis

The sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) is augmented in hypertension. SNA is regulated by neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) or endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity in hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei (PVN) and/or brainstem rostral ventrolateral medulla. High nNOS or eNOS activity within these brain regions lowers the SNA, whereas low cerebral nNOS and/or eNOS activity causes SNA augmentation. We hypothesize that the decreased cerebral nNOS/eNOS activity, which allows the enhancement of SNA, leads to the augmentation of renal eNOS/nNOS activity. Similarly, when the cerebral nNOS/eNOS activity is increased and SNA is suppressed, the renal eNOS/nNOS activity is suppressed as well. The activation of endothelial alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, may be a possible mechanism involved in the proposed regulation. Another possible mechanism might be based on nitric oxide, which acts as a neurotransmitter that tonically activates afferent renal nerves, leading to a decreased nNOS activity in PVN. Furthermore, the importance of the renal nNOS/eNOSactivity during renal denervation is discussed. In conclusion, the presented hypothesis describes the dual organ-specific role of eNOS/nNOS activity in blood pressure regulation and suggests possible connection between cerebral NOS and renal NOS via activation or inhibition of SNA, which is an innovative idea in the concept of pathophysiology of hypertension.

Neuroplasticity in N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor signaling in subregions of the rat rostral ventrolateral medulla following sedentary versus physically active conditions

The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) is a brain region involved in normal regulation of the cardiovascular system and heightened sympathoexcitatory states of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Among major risk factors for CVD, sedentary lifestyles contribute to higher mortality than other modifiable risk factors. Previous studies suggest excessive glutamatergic excitation of presympathetic neurons in the RVLM occurs in sedentary animals. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine neuroplasticity in the glutamatergic system in the RVLM of sedentary and physically active rats. We hypothesized that relative to active rats, sedentary rats would exhibit higher expression of glutamate N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor subunits (GluN), phosphoGluN1, and the excitatory scaffold protein postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95), while achieving higher glutamate levels. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (4 weeks old) were divided into sedentary and active (running wheel) conditions for 10-12 weeks. We used retrograde tracing/triple-labeling techniques, western blotting, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We report in sedentary versus physically active rats: 1) fewer bulbospinal non-C1 neurons positive for GluN1, 2) significantly higher expression of GluN1 and GluN2B but lower levels of phosphoGluN1 (pSer896) and PSD95, and 3) higher levels of glutamate in the RVLM. Higher GluN expression is consistent with enhanced sympathoexcitation in sedentary animals; however, a more complex neuroplasticity occurs within subregions of the ventrolateral medulla. Our results in rodents may also indicate that alterations in glutamatergic excitation of the RVLM contribute to the increased incidence of CVD in humans who lead sedentary lifestyles. Thus, there is a strong need to further pursue mechanisms of inactivity-related neuroplasticity in the RVLM.

Age-related mitochondrial dysfunction as a key factor in COVID-19 disease

SARS-CoV-2 causes a severe pneumonia (COVID-19) that affects essentially elderly people. In COVID-19, macrophage infiltration into the lung causes a rapid and intense cytokine storm leading finally to a multi-organ failure and death. Comorbidities such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes, lung and cardiovascular diseases, all of them age-associated diseases, increase the severity and lethality of COVID-19. Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the hallmarks of aging and COVID-19 risk factors. Dysfunctional mitochondria is associated with defective immunological response to viral infections and chronic inflammation. This review discuss how mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with defective immune response in aging and different age-related diseases, and with many of the comorbidities associated with poor prognosis in the progression of COVID-19. We suggest here that chronic inflammation caused by mitochondrial dysfunction is responsible of the explosive release of inflammatory cytokines causing severe pneumonia, multi-organ failure and finally death in COVID-19 patients. Preventive treatments based on therapies improving mitochondrial turnover, dynamics and activity would be essential to protect against COVID-19 severity.

The "Road" to Atrial Fibrillation: The Role of the Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System

At the population level, there is a parallel escalation in the healthcare burden of both, atrial fibrillation (AF) as well its risk factors. Compounding this relationship, AF is associated with escalating burden at an individual level, due its self-perpetuating and progressive nature. The mechanisms by which these risk factors interact to produce atrial remodelling and subsequent AF are unclear. This intersection is critical to the development of strategies to combat this disease at both the individual and population-level. It is well known that AF can manifest from disturbances in autonomic activity. At the population level, there is growing data to suggest a role of the autonomic nervous system in the future incidence of AF. Here, we provide an overview of the association of cardiac autonomic dysfunction with the incidence of AF, review the role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) as an intermediary between risk factors and the development of AF and finally, we discuss the bidirectional relationship between AF and cardiac autonomic nervous system dysfunction; to determine whether this is implicated in the progression of AF.

Subregional differences in GABAA receptor subunit expression in the rostral ventrolateral medulla of sedentary versus physically active rats

Neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) regulate blood pressure through direct projections to spinal sympathetic preganglionic neurons. Only some RVLM neurons are active under resting conditions due to significant, tonic inhibition by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Withdrawal of GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition of the RVLM increases sympathetic outflow and blood pressure substantially, providing a mechanism by which the RVLM could contribute chronically to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Here, we tested the hypothesis that sedentary conditions, a major risk factor for CVD, increase GABAA receptors in RVLM, including its rostral extension (RVLMRE ), both of which contain bulbospinal catecholamine (C1) and non-C1 neurons. We examined GABAA receptor subunits GABAAα1 and GABAAα2 in the RVLM/RVLMRE of sedentary or physically active (10-12 weeks of wheel running) rats. Western blot analyses indicated that sedentary rats had lower expression of GABAAα1 and GABAAα2 subunits in RVLM but only GABAAα2 was lower in the RVLMRE of sedentary rats. Sedentary rats had significantly reduced expression of the chloride transporter, KCC2, suggesting less effective GABA-mediated inhibition compared to active rats. Retrograde tracing plus triple-label immunofluorescence identified fewer bulbospinal non-C1 neurons immunoreactive for GABAAα1 but a higher percentage of bulbospinal C1 neurons immunoreactive for GABAAα1 in sedentary animals. Sedentary conditions did not significantly affect the number of bulbospinal C1 or non-C1 neurons immunoreactive for GABAAα2 . These results suggest a complex interplay between GABAA receptor expression by spinally projecting C1 and non-C1 neurons and sedentary versus physically active conditions. They also provide plausible mechanisms for both enhanced sympathoexcitatory and sympathoinhibitory responses following sedentary conditions.

Is Technology for Orthostatic Hypotension Ready for Primetime?

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in the devastating loss of motor, sensory, and autonomic function. After SCI, the interruption of descending sympathoexcitatory pathways disrupts supraspinal control of blood pressure (BP). A common clinical consequence of cardiovascular dysfunction after SCI is orthostatic hypotension (OH), a debilitating condition characterized by rapid profound decreases in BP when assuming an upright posture. OH can result in a diverse array of insidious and pernicious health consequences. Acute effects of OH include decreased cardiac filling, cerebral hypoperfusion, and associated presyncopal symptoms such as lightheadedness and dizziness. Over the long term, repetitive exposure to OH is associated with a drastically increased prevalence of heart attack and stroke, which are leading causes of death in those with SCI. Current recommendations for managing BP after SCI primarily include pharmacologic interventions with prolonged time to effect. Because most episodes of OH occur in less than 3 minutes, this delay in action often renders most pharmacologic interventions ineffective. New innovative technologies such as epidural and transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation are being explored to solve this problem. It might be possible to electrically stimulate sympathetic circuitry caudal to the injury and elicit rapid modulation of BP to manage OH. This review describes autonomic control of the cardiovascular system before injury, resulting cardiovascular consequences after SCI such as OH, and the clinical assessment tools for evaluating autonomic dysfunction after SCI. In addition, current approaches for clinically managing OH are outlined, and new promising interventions are described for managing this condition.

Orexin Receptor-1 in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla Mediates the Antihypertensive Effects of Electroacupuncture

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been used to treat numerous diseases, including hypertension. This study aimed to investigate the long-term effect and underlying mechanisms of EA stimulation at the LI11 point on the hypertension and sympathetic nerve activity in two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) hypertensive rats. EA (0.1–0.4 mA, 2 and 15 Hz) was applied to the acupoints LI11 overlying the deep radial nerve once a day for 6 weeks. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were determined by radiotelemetry, and the sympathetic nerve activity was evaluated by telemetric analyses of the low-frequency component of blood pressure (BP) and by plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels. The results showed 6 weeks of EA significantly lowered the increased BP effectively, inhibited the enhanced sympathetic nerve activities and attenuated cardiac hypertrophy in 2K1C hypertensive rats. The level of orexin receptor-1 (OX1R) in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) after EA treatment was markedly reduced in 2K1C rats, while there was no difference in the RVLM expression of orexin receptor-2 (OX2R) in 2K1C and 2K1C+EA rats. Moreover, the increased pressor and depressor responses to microinjection of orexin A or OX1R antagonist SB408124 into the RVLM of 2K1C rats were significantly blunted by the EA treatment. These findings suggest that BP-lowering effect of EA on renovascular hypertension may be through inhibition of central sympathetic activities and modulation of functional orexin receptors in the RVLM.

Physiological Redundancy and the Integrative Responses to Exercise

The biological responses to acute and chronic exercise are marked by a high level of physiological redundancy that operates at various levels of integration, including the molecular, cellular, organ-system, and whole-body scale. During acute exercise, this redundancy protects whole-body homeostasis in the face of 10-fold or more increases in whole-body metabolic rate. In some cases, there are "trade-offs" between optimizing the performance of a given organ or system versus whole-body performance. Physiological redundancy also plays a key role in the adaptive responses to exercise training and high levels of habitual physical activity, including the positive effects of regular exercise on health. Appreciation of the general principles of physiological redundancy is critical to (1) gain an overall understanding of short- and long-term responses to exercise, and (2) place physiological responses occurring at various levels of integration in perspective.

The link between exercise and titin passive stiffness

NEW FINDINGS

What is the topic of this review? This review focuses on how in vivo and molecular measurements of cardiac passive stiffness can predict exercise tolerance and how exercise training can reduce cardiac passive stiffness. What advances does it highlight? This review highlights advances in understanding the relationship between molecular (titin-based) and in vivo (left ventricular) passive stiffness, how passive stiffness modifies exercise tolerance, and how exercise training may be therapeutic for cardiac diseases with increased passive stiffness. Exercise can help alleviate the negative effects of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular co-morbidities associated with sedentary behaviour; this may be especially true in diseases that are associated with increased left ventricular passive stiffness. In this review, we discuss the inverse relationship between exercise tolerance and cardiac passive stiffness. Passive stiffness is the physical property of cardiac muscle to produce a resistive force when stretched, which, in vivo, is measured using the left ventricular end diastolic pressure-volume relationship or is estimated using echocardiography. The giant elastic protein titin is the major contributor to passive stiffness at physiological muscle (sarcomere) lengths. Passive stiffness can be modified by altering titin isoform size or by post-translational modifications. In both human and animal models, increased left ventricular passive stiffness is associated with reduced exercise tolerance due to impaired diastolic filling, suggesting that increased passive stiffness predicts reduced exercise tolerance. At the same time, exercise training itself may induce both short- and long-term changes in titin-based passive stiffness, suggesting that exercise may be a treatment for diseases associated with increased passive stiffness. Direct modification of passive stiffness to improve exercise tolerance is a potential therapeutic approach. Titin passive stiffness itself may be a treatment target based on the recent discovery of RNA binding motif 20, which modifies titin isoform size and passive stiffness. Translating these discoveries that link exercise and left ventricular passive stiffness may provide new methods to enhance exercise tolerance and treat patients with cardiovascular disease.

Exercise training to reduce sympathetic nerve activity in heart failure patients. A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of exercise training on sympathetic nerve activity in heart failure patients.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed. An electronic search of MEDLINE, ProQuest, SciELO, SPORTDiscus, Rehabilitation and Sport Medicine Source, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Tripdatabase, Science Direct and PEDrO was performed from their inception to February 2017. Clinical trials and quasi-experimental studies were considered for primary article selection. The studies should include patients diagnosed with chronic heart failure that performed exercise training for at least 4 weeks. Sympathetic nerve activity should be measured by microneurography before and after the intervention. The Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias Tool was used to evaluate risk of bias, and the quality of evidence was rated following the GRADE approach. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated for control and experimental groups. Meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model.

RESULTS

Five trials were included. Overall, the trials had moderate risk of bias. The experimental group indicated a significant decrease in the number of bursts per minute (SMD -2.48; 95% CI -3.55 to -1.41) when compared to the control group. Meanwhile, a significant decrease was also observed in the prevalence of bursts per 100 beats in the experimental group when compared to the control group (SMD -2.66; 95% CI -3.64 to -1.69).

CONCLUSION

Exercise training could be effective in reducing sympathetic nerve activity in patients with heart failure. The quality of evidence across the studies was moderate. Future studies are necessary to confirm these results.

Altered Differential Control of Sympathetic Outflow Following Sedentary Conditions: Role of Subregional Neuroplasticity in the RVLM

Despite the classically held belief of an “all-or-none” activation of the sympathetic nervous system, differential responses in sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) can occur acutely at varying magnitudes and in opposing directions. Sympathetic nerves also appear to contribute differentially to various disease states including hypertension and heart failure. Previously we have reported that sedentary conditions enhanced responses of splanchnic SNA (SSNA) but not lumbar SNA (LSNA) to activation of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in rats. Bulbospinal RVLM neurons from sedentary rats also exhibit increased dendritic branching in rostral regions of the RVLM. We hypothesized that regionally specific structural neuroplasticity would manifest as enhanced SSNA but not LSNA following activation of the rostral RVLM. To test this hypothesis, groups of physically active (10–12 weeks on running wheels) or sedentary, male Sprague-Dawley rats were instrumented to record mean arterial pressure, LSNA and SSNA under Inactin anesthesia and during microinjections of glutamate (30 nl, 10 mM) into multiple sites within the RVLM. Sedentary conditions enhanced SSNA but not LSNA responses and SSNA responses were enhanced at more central and rostral sites. Results suggest that enhanced SSNA responses in rostral RVLM coincide with enhanced dendritic branching in rostral RVLM observed previously. Identifying structural and functional neuroplasticity in specific populations of RVLM neurons may help identify new treatments for cardiovascular diseases, known to be more prevalent in sedentary individuals.

Pediatric cardio-autonomic response to variable effort after severe traumatic brain injury

AIM

To assess heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) at rest, during exercise and during the recovery phase post-exercise in children at the chronic phase post-severe TBI as compared to age-matched typically-developed (TD) controls.

SETTING

Out-patient clinic.

PARTICIPANTS

Ten children (two girls, eight boys), 3-5 years post-severe TBI, aged 7-11 years with residual deficits and 20 TD children matched for age.

INTERVENTIONS

HR and HRV were determined at rest, during step test for 3 minutes, during walking on a treadmill for 6 minutes and during the recovery periods post-exercise sessions.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

HR and HRV parameters.

RESULTS

Children post-TBI demonstrated higher mean HR values and lower HRV at rest compared to controls (p < 0.05). During exercise a significant increase in HR and significant decrease in HRV was noted in both groups. A significant interaction was noted (p < 0.01); HR and HRV parameters in response to exercise and to exercise cessation were significantly lower among children post-TBI as compared to the controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study show that, in children, post-severe TBI at the chronic phase, the cardiac autonomic system is less efficient at rest and less adaptive to exercise and activity as compared to TD children.

Swimming Training Modulates Nitric Oxide-Glutamate Interaction in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla in Normotensive Conscious Rats

We evaluated the effects of swimming training on nitric oxide (NO) modulation to glutamate microinjection within the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in conscious freely moving rats. Male Wistar rats were submitted to exercise training (Tr) by swimming or kept sedentary (Sed) for 4 weeks. After the last training session, RVLM guide cannulas and arterial/venous catheters were chronically implanted. Arterial pressure (AP), heart rate (HR), and baroreflex control of HR (loading/unloading of baroreceptors) were recorded in conscious rats at rest. Pressor response to L-glutamate in the RVLM was compared before and after blockade of local nitric oxide (NO) production. In other Tr and Sed groups, brain was harvested for gene (qRT-PCR) and protein (immunohistochemistry) expression of NO synthase (NOS) isoforms and measurement of NO content (nitrite assay) within the RVLM. Trained rats exhibited resting bradycardia (average reduction of 9%), increased baroreflex gain (Tr: −4.41 ± 0.5 vs. Sed: −2.42 ± 0.31 b/min/mmHg), and unchanged resting MAP. The pressor response to glutamate was smaller in the Tr group (32 ± 4 vs. 53 ± 2 mmHg, p < 0.05); this difference disappeared after RVLM pretreatment with carboxy-PTIO (NO scavenger), Nw-Propyl-L-Arginine and L-NAME (NOS inhibitors). eNOS immunoreactivity observed mainly in RVLM capillaries was higher in Tr, but eNOS gene expression was reduced. nNOS gene and protein expression was slightly reduced (−29 and −9%, respectively, P > 0.05). Also, RVLM NO levels were significantly reduced in Tr (−63% vs. Sed). After microinjection of a NO-donor, the attenuated pressor response of L-glutamate in Tr group was restored. Data indicate that swimming training by decreasing RVLM NO availability and glutamatergic neurotransmission to locally administered glutamate may contribute to decreased sympathetic activity in trained subjects.