TY - JOUR
T1 - Modulation of synaptic transmission to second-order peripheral chemoreceptor neurons in caudal nucleus tractus solitarius by α1-adrenoreceptors
AU - Zhang, Weirong
AU - Mifflin, Steve W.
PY - 2007/2
Y1 - 2007/2
N2 - Norepinephrine (NE) is an important neurotransmitter in central autonomic regulation. Peripheral chemoreceptor stimulation activates central noradrenergic structures. These structures innervate and therefore could modulate neurons in caudal nucleus tractus solitarius (cNTS), which receives the first central projections from peripheral chemoreceptors. However, the role of α1-adrenoreceptors in synaptic transmission of peripheral chemoreceptor inputs in cNTS is unknown. We investigated the responses to activation of α1-adrenoreceptors on glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs in NTS slices using whole-cell recording. Second-order neurons were identified by 1,1′-dilinoleyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetra-methyl- indocarbocyanine, 4-chlorobenzenesulphonate (DiA) labeling of carotid bodies. Electrical stimulation of ipsilateral tractus solitarius was used to evoke excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs), whereas inhibitory postsynaptic currents were evoked (eIPSCs) by electrically stimulating NTS near the recorded neuron. Application of α1-adrenoreceptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) at 20 μM significantly decreased amplitudes of eEPSCs (78 ± 1% of control; n = 16; p < 0.01), and it increased amplitudes of eIPSCs (120 ± 13% of control; n = 7; p < 0.01). Both effects were blocked by the α1-adrenoreceptor antagonist prazosin at 10 μM. PE did not change holding current, input resistance, and current-voltage relationship in cNTS neurons. PE significantly changed paired pulse ratios of eEPSC/eIPSCs, increased the frequency of miniature IPSCs (329 ± 10% of control; n = 6; p < 0.05), but it decreased that of miniature EPSCs (69 ± 6% of control; n = 5; p < 0.01). PE-induced inhibition of eEPSCs was independent of N-methyl-D-aspartate or GABAB receptors. These results suggest that activation of α1-adrenoreceptors reduces excitatory and enhances inhibitory inputs to second-order peripheral chemoreceptor neurons in cNTS via a presynaptic mechanism. These actions result in the inhibition of synaptic transmission and could play a role in the autonomic responses to hypoxia.
AB - Norepinephrine (NE) is an important neurotransmitter in central autonomic regulation. Peripheral chemoreceptor stimulation activates central noradrenergic structures. These structures innervate and therefore could modulate neurons in caudal nucleus tractus solitarius (cNTS), which receives the first central projections from peripheral chemoreceptors. However, the role of α1-adrenoreceptors in synaptic transmission of peripheral chemoreceptor inputs in cNTS is unknown. We investigated the responses to activation of α1-adrenoreceptors on glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs in NTS slices using whole-cell recording. Second-order neurons were identified by 1,1′-dilinoleyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetra-methyl- indocarbocyanine, 4-chlorobenzenesulphonate (DiA) labeling of carotid bodies. Electrical stimulation of ipsilateral tractus solitarius was used to evoke excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs), whereas inhibitory postsynaptic currents were evoked (eIPSCs) by electrically stimulating NTS near the recorded neuron. Application of α1-adrenoreceptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) at 20 μM significantly decreased amplitudes of eEPSCs (78 ± 1% of control; n = 16; p < 0.01), and it increased amplitudes of eIPSCs (120 ± 13% of control; n = 7; p < 0.01). Both effects were blocked by the α1-adrenoreceptor antagonist prazosin at 10 μM. PE did not change holding current, input resistance, and current-voltage relationship in cNTS neurons. PE significantly changed paired pulse ratios of eEPSC/eIPSCs, increased the frequency of miniature IPSCs (329 ± 10% of control; n = 6; p < 0.05), but it decreased that of miniature EPSCs (69 ± 6% of control; n = 5; p < 0.01). PE-induced inhibition of eEPSCs was independent of N-methyl-D-aspartate or GABAB receptors. These results suggest that activation of α1-adrenoreceptors reduces excitatory and enhances inhibitory inputs to second-order peripheral chemoreceptor neurons in cNTS via a presynaptic mechanism. These actions result in the inhibition of synaptic transmission and could play a role in the autonomic responses to hypoxia.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33846459380&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1124/jpet.106.114033
DO - 10.1124/jpet.106.114033
M3 - Article
C2 - 17082311
AN - SCOPUS:33846459380
SN - 0022-3565
VL - 320
SP - 670
EP - 677
JO - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
JF - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
IS - 2
ER -