Chronic infusion of berberine into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus attenuates hypertension and sympathoexcitation via the ROS/Erk1/2/iNOS pathway.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Berberine (BBR), a Chinese traditional herbal medicine, has many pharmacologic benefits such as anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation. It is widely used in clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. However, the mechanism of how BBR attenuates hypertension through affecting central neural system is not clear.

PURPOSE:

This study was designed to determine whether chronic infusion of BBR into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) attenuates hypertension and sympathoexcitation via the ROS/Erk1/2/iNOS pathway.

METHODS:

Two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) renovascular hypertensive rats were randomly assigned and treated with bilateral PVN infusion of BBR (2μg/h) or vehicle (artificial cerebrospinal fluid) via osmotic minipumps for 28 days.

RESULTS:

2K1C rats showed higher mean arterial pressure (MAP) and PVN Fra-like activity, plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE), PVN levels of NOX2, NOX4, Erk1/2 and iNOS, and lower PVN levels of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD). Chronic infusion of BBR reduced MAP, PVN Fra-like activity and plasma levels of NE, reduced NOX2, NOX4, Erk1/2, iNOS and induced Cu/Zn-SOD in the PVN.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results suggest that BBR attenuates hypertension and sympathoexcitation via the ROS/Erk1/2/iNOS pathway in 2K1C renovascular hypertensive rats.

• Authors: Hua Tian, Yu-Ming Kang, Hong-Li Gao, Xiao-Lian Shi, Li-Yan Fu, Ying Li, Xiu-Yue Jia, Kai-Li Liu, Jie Qi, Hong-Bao Li, Yan-Mei Chen, Wen-Sheng Chen, Wei Cui, Guo-Qing Zhu, Xiao-Jing Yu
• Journal: Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (Phytomedicine) Vol. 52 Pg. 216-224 (Jan 2019) ISSN: 1618-095X [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 30599901 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier GmbH.

Chemical References

• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Berberine
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
• Nos2 protein, rat
• Superoxide Dismutase-1
• Cybb protein, rat
• NADPH Oxidase 2
• NADPH Oxidase 4
• Nox4 protein, rat
• Norepinephrine

Topics

• Animals
• Arterial Pressure
• Berberine (pharmacology)
• Hypertension (drug therapy)
• MAP Kinase Signaling System
• Male
• NADPH Oxidase 2 (metabolism)
• NADPH Oxidase 4 (metabolism)
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II (metabolism)
• Norepinephrine (blood)
• Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus (drug effects)
• Random Allocation
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)
• Superoxide Dismutase-1 (metabolism)