Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  2013 Aug;17(4):367-373. 10.4196/kjpp.2013.17.4.367.

Additive Role of the Vestibular End Organ and Baroreceptors on the Regulation of Blood Pressure in Rats

• Lan Y
• Yang YZ
• Jiang X
• Li LW
• Jin GS
• Kim MS
• Park BR
• Jin YZ

• KMID: 2285472
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.2013.17.4.367

Abstract

Contribution of the vestibular end organ to regulation of arterial pressure was quantitatively compared with the role of baroreceptors in terms of baroreflex sensitivity and c-Fos protein expression in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). Baroreflex sensitivity and c-Fos protein expression in the RVLM were measured in conscious rats that had undergone bilateral labyrinthectomy (BL) and/or baroreceptor unloading. BL attenuated baroreflex sensitivity during intravenous infusion of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), but did not significantly affect the sensitivity following infusion of phenylephrine (PE). Baroreflex sensitivity became positive following sinoaortic denervation (SAD) during infusion of PE and attenuated sensitivity during infusion of SNP. Baroreflex sensitivity also became positive following double ablation (BL+SAD) during infusion of PE, and attenuated sensitivity during infusion of SNP. c-Fos protein expression increased significantly in the RVLM in the sham group after SNP administration. However, the BL, SAD, and SAD+BL groups showed significant decreases in c-Fos protein expression compared with that in the sham group. The SAD group showed more reduced c-Fos protein expression than that in the BL group, and the SAD+BL group showed less expression than that in the SAD group. These results suggest that the vestibular system cooperates with baroreceptors to maintain arterial pressure during hypotension but that baroreceptors regulate arterial pressure during both hypotension and hypertension. Additionally, afferent signals for maintaining blood pressure from the vestibular end organs and the baroreceptors may be integrated in the RVLM.

Keyword

Baroreceptor; Blood pressure; c-Fos protein; Rostral ventrolateral medulla; Vestibular system

MeSH Terms

Animals
Arterial Pressure
Baroreflex
Blood Pressure
Denervation
Hypertension
Hypotension
Infusions, Intravenous
Nitroprusside
Phenylephrine
Pressoreceptors
Rats
Salicylamides
Nitroprusside
Phenylephrine
Salicylamides

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Change in baroreflex sensitivity in the bilateral labyrinthectomy (BL), sinoaortic denervation (SAD), and double destruction (SAD+BL) groups. (A) intravenous infusion of phenylephrine; (B) intravenous infusion of sodium nitroprusside. Sham, sham treated; BL, bilateral labyrinthectomy; SAD, sinoaortic denervation; SAD+BL, double destruction (8 rats/group). Values are means±standard errors. *Significant difference compared with sham group (**p<0.01); †Significant difference compared with BL group (‡p<0.01); ⋆Significant difference compared with SAD group (⋆⋆p<0.01).

• 

  Fig. 2 Photomicrographs showing the effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) infusion on expression of c-Fos protein in the rostral ventrolateral medulla. Expression of c-Fos protein was measured 90 min after SNP infusion. Sham, sham treated; BL, bilateral labyrinthectomy; SAD, sinoaortic denervation; SAD+BL, double destruction. RVLM, rostral ventrolateral medulla (the coordinate: 11.90 mm posterior to bregma). Scale bar=10 µm.

• 

  Fig. 3 Effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) infusion on expression of c-Fos protein in the rostral ventrolateral medulla. Sham, sham treated; BL, bilateral labyrinthectomy; SAD, sinoaortic denervation; SAD+BL, double destruction (6 rats/group). Values are means± standard errors. *Significant difference compared with group injected with saline (**p<0.01 ). #Significant difference compared with sham group injected with SNP (##p<0.01); @Significant difference compared with BL group injected with SNP (@@p<0.01); ⋆Significant difference compared with SAD group injected with SNP (⋆⋆p<0.01); †Significant difference compared with sham group injected with saline (‡p<0.05).

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