Involvement of NMDA receptors, nitric oxide and GABA in rostral ventrolateral medulla in acute ethanol-induced cardiovascular responses in rats
Abstract
Consumption of ethanol (alcohol) has many effects on physiological functions, particularly those in the central nervous system (CNS) and cardiovascular system. Acute excessive intake of ethanol (alcohol intoxication) may cause hypotension and tachycardia. In this study, we examined the mechanistic involvement of glutamatergic NMDA receptors, nitric oxide (NO) andγ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) pathways in the CNS in acute ethanol-induced cardiovascular effects. Ethanol was administered by intraperitoneal (IP) injection in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured in conscious and in urethane-anesthetized rats. Inhibitors were applied by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection or by microinjection into rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). Microdialysis was used to determine the level of glutamate, NO, and GABA in the RVLM. IP injection of ethanol (3.2 g/kg) caused a significant decrease in BP in conscious and anesthetized rats and a late increase in HR in conscious rats. The cardiovascular effects of ethanol were significantly attenuated by ICV or by RVLM post-treatment with ketamine (an NMDA receptor antagonist), L-NNA (a NO synthase inhibitor), or bicuculline (a GABA receptor antagonist). ...Continue Reading
References
Heritability of the blood pressure response to acute ethanol exposure in five inbred strains of mice
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