Summary
The effects of carotid occlusion on the release of catecholamines in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) were investigated in anaesthetized cats. Two aspects of the nucleus (rostral or intermediate NTS) were superfused bilaterally through push-pull cannulae with artificial CSF and the release of the endogenous dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline was determined in the superfusate radioenzymatically. The superfusion rate was 150 μl/min or 800 μl/min. In some experiments, superfusion of the intermediate NTS was carried out after denervation of the aortic arch.
In the rostral NTS superfused at a rate of 150 μl/min, bilateral carotid occlusion led to a rise in blood pressure and decreased the release rate of dopamine. These changes continued after occlusion termination. The release rate of noradrenaline was transiently diminished during occlusion. The release of this amine was also decreased after occlusion termination. The release rate of adrenaline was not influenced during carotid occlusion, but it was found to be diminished after termination of the occlusion. Superfusion of the rostral NTS at a rate of 800 μl/min also reduced the release rate of adrenaline after termination of carotid artery occlusion. In the intermediate NTS (superfusion rate 150 μl/min) similar effects of the carotid occlusion on the release rates of dopamine and noradrenaline were observed. In this aspect of the NTS, denervation of the aortic arch abolished the decrease in the noradrenaline release during carotic occlusion, while the release rates of dopamine and adrenaline were decreased during and after termination of the carotid occlusion.
The results suggest that (a) the rise in blood pressure in the carotid sinus after termination of a carotid occlusion decreases the release rates of noradrenaline and adrenaline in the NTS, (b) the decrease in the release of noradrenaline during carotid occlusion is due to impulses originating from the baroreceptors of the aortic arch.
Thus, impulses from carotid sinus and aortic arch modify the release rates of noradrenaline in the NTS so as to counteract blood pressure changes.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Axelrod J, Tomchick R (1958) Enzymatic O-methylation of epinephrine and other catechols. J Biol Chem 233:702–705
Berman AL (1968) The brainstem of the cat. A cytoarchitectonic atlas with stereotaxic coordinates. The University of Wisconsin Press, Madison
Fuxe K, Agnati LF, Ganten D, Goldstein M, Yukimura T, Jonsson G, Bolme P, Hökfelt T, Andersson K, Härfstrand A, Unger T, Rascher N (1981) The role of noradrenaline and adrenaline neuron systems and substance P in the control of central cardiovascular functions. In: Buckley JP, Ferrario CM (eds) Central nervous system mechanisms in hypertension, vol 6. Raven Press, New York, pp 89–113
Klüver H, Barrera E (1953) A method for the combined staining of cells and fibers in the nervous system. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 12:400–403
Kobilansky C, Lanzinger I, Philippu A (1988) Release of endogenous catecholamines in the nucleus tractus solitarii during experimentally induced blood pressure changes. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 337:125–130
Lanzinger I, Kobilansky C, Philippu A (1989) Pattern of catecholamine release in the nucleus tractus solitarii of the cat. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 339:298–301
Miura M, Takayama K (1986) The functional subdivisions of the nucleus tractus solitarii of the cat in relation to the carotid sinus nerve reflex. J Anton Nerv Syst 15:79–92
Palkovits M, Brownstein MJ (1989) Catecholamines in the central nervous system. In: Trendelenburg U, Weiner N (eds) Catecholamines II. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 1–26
Philippu A (1988) Regulation of blood pressure by central neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 111:1–115
Philippu A, Przuntek H, Roensberg W (1973) Superfusion of the hypothalamus with gamma-aminobutyruc acid: effect on release of noradrenaline and blood pressure. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 276:103–118
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung
Send offprint requests to A. Philippu at the above address
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Klausmair, A., Singewald, N. & Philippu, A. Release of endogenous catecholamines in two different regions of the nucleus of the solitary tract as influenced by carotid occlusion. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 343, 155–160 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00168603
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00168603