Cardiorespiratory cholinergic function in the nucleus of the solitary tract

• Grant number: 11/20040-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: May 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Débora Simões de Almeida Colombari
• Grantee: Débora Simões de Almeida Colombari
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) is deeply related with the control of the cardiorespiratory functions. It is described that the NTS have different neuronal clusters that receive distinct afferent input, as from baroreceptors, chemoreceptors and from pulmonary stretch receptors. NTS also have neuroanatomical connections with different areas of the central nervous system involved with the generation and maintenance of the sympathetic and respiratory activities. Nevertheless, the neurotransmitters of the NTS involved in the cardiorepiratory control are not well established. Previous studies identified the presence of a cholinergic system in the NTS. It has been demonstrated that acetylcholine microinjected into the intermediate NTS of anaesthetized or awake rats induce hypotension and bradycardia. However, there is no study showing the effects of the cholinergic stimulation or blockade of the different subnuclei of the NTS (intermediate or comissural) on the sympathetic and phrenic nerves activities. Therefore, this project proposes to study the involvement of acetylcholine and the muscarinic and nicotinic receptors in the different subregions of the NTS (intermediate and comissural) on the control of the sympathetic and respiratory activities. We will also study the role of the cholinergic system of the NTS on control of the baro and chemoreflexes. Juvenile male Holtzman rats (60-100 g), will be decorticated and artificially perfused. In this in situ preparation the hypothalamus and medulla will be kept intact, allowing the allowing the sympathetic and respiratory activities been generated as in vivo (with no anesthesia effect). Cholinergic agonists or antagonists will be microinjected, separately, in the intermediate NTS and commissural NTS subregions of the NTS and the changes evoked in the sympathetic and phrenic nerve activities, heart rate and perfusion pressure will be analyzed. The activation of the baro and chemoreflexes will be performed by intra-arterial injections of phenylephrine and KCN, respectively. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ZOCCAL, DANIEL B.; FURUYA, WERNER I.; BASSI, MIRIAN; COLOMBARI, DEBORA S. A.; COLOMBARI, EDUARDO. The nucleus of the solitary tract and the coordination of respiratory and sympathetic activities. FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY, v. 5, JUN 25 2014. (09/54888-7, 11/20040-1)

FURUYA, WERNER I.; BASSI, MIRIAN; MENANI, JOSE V.; COLOMBARI, EDUARDO; ZOCCAL, DANIEL B.; COLOMBARI, DEBORA S. A.. Differential modulation of sympathetic and respiratory activities by cholinergic mechanisms in the nucleus of the solitary tract in rats. Experimental Physiology, v. 99, n. 5, p. 743-758, MAY 1 2014. (09/54888-7, 10/17218-0, 11/20040-1)

FURUYA, WERNER I.; COLOMBARI, EDUARDO; FERGUSON, ALASTAIR V.; COLOMBARI, DEBORA S. A.. Effects of acetylcholine and cholinergic antagonists on the activity of nucleus of the solitary tract neurons. Brain Research, v. 1659, p. 136-141, MAR 15 2017. (09/54888-7, 10/17218-0, 12/05844-0, 11/20040-1)

DE BRITO ALVES, JOSE L.; NOGUEIRA, VIVIANE O.; CAVALCANTI NETO, MARINALDO P.; LEOPOLDINO, ANDREIA M.; CURTI, CARLOS; COLOMBARI, DEBORA S. A.; COLOMBARI, EDUARDO; WANDERLEY, ALMIR G.; LEANDRO, CAROL G.; ZOCCAL, DANIEL B.; et al. Maternal Protein Restriction Increases Respiratory and Sympathetic Activities and Sensitizes Peripheral Chemoreflex in Male Rat Offspring. Journal of Nutrition, v. 145, n. 5, p. 907-914, MAY 2015. (09/54888-7, 11/20040-1)