AMPA/kainate receptors mediate sympathetic chemoreceptor reflex in the rostral ventrolateral medulla

Takashi Miyawaki, Jane Minson, Leonard Arnolda, Ida Llewellyn-Smith, John Chalmers, Paul Pilowsky*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    24 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Previous studies have reported that information from carotid chemoreceptors activates sympathetic premotor neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) exclusively via N-methyI-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors. In this study, we examined the possible involvement of α-amino- 3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)/kainate receptors in the RVLM on sympathetic chemoreceptor reflex in pentobarbitone anaesthetised, vagotomised and artificially ventilated rats. Carotid chemoreceptor stimulation with brief N2 inhalation increased splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity and arterial pressure in animals that had received an intravenous rejection of the non-competitive NMDA receptor blocker, MK-801 (2 mg/kg). RVLM sympathetic premotor neurons could also be activated by brief hypoxia in the presence of MK-801. However, microinjection of 6-cyano-7- nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX, a selective AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist, 2 mM, 100 nl) into the RVLM after intravenous MK-801 abolished the hypoxia evoked sympathoexcitatory response. These results demonstrate that AMPA/kainate receptors in the RVLM are involved in the chemoreceptor reflex pathway.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)64-68
    Number of pages5
    JournalBrain Research
    Volume726
    Issue number1-2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 8 Jul 1996

    Keywords

    • Blood pressure
    • Hypoxia
    • MK-801
    • Phrenic
    • Respiration
    • Sympathetic

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