Reduction of pressor response to stress by centrally acting apelin in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Numerous studies suggest that apelin plays a significant role in cardiovascular regulation and in the pathogenesis of hypertension. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether apelin-13 (AP-13) is involved in the regulation of cardiovascular responses to acute stress in spontaneous hypertension.

METHODS:

The effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of AP-13 on changes in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate evoked by an alarming stress (air jet stress) were compared in awake normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The rats were divided into four groups: Groups 1 (WKY) and 3 (SHR) received ICV infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride (vehicle), whereas Groups 2 (WKY) and 4 (SHR) were ICV infused with AP-13. All animals were exposed to the alarming stress.

RESULTS:

During the ICV administration of the vehicle, the pressor response to stress was significantly greater in SHR than in WKY. The ICV infusion of AP-13 reduced the pressor response evoked by the application of the stressor in SHR but not in WKY. It also abolished the difference in stress-induced MABP increases between WKY and SHR.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results show that centrally acting apelin may play an essential role in the regulation of blood pressure responses to an alarming stress in SHR rats.

• Authors: Ryszard Stefan Gomolka, Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jedrzejewska, Katarzyna Czarzasta, Ewa Szczepanska-Sadowska
• Journal: Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology (J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol) Vol. 26 Issue 3 Pg. 233-6 (May 2015) ISSN: 2191-0286 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 25427062 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• apelin-13 peptide

Topics

• Animals
• Arterial Pressure (drug effects)
• Cardiovascular System (drug effects)
• Heart Rate (drug effects)
• Hypertension (physiopathology)
• Infusions, Intraventricular
• Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins (administration & dosage)
• Male
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred SHR
• Rats, Inbred WKY
• Stress, Physiological (drug effects)