GAB(A) but not GABA(B) receptors in the lateral hypothalamus modulate the tachycardic response to emotional stress in rats

Author(s)

Gomes-de-Souza, Lucas ^{[1, 2]} ; Benini, Ricardo ^{[1, 2]} ; Costa-Ferreira, Willian ^{[1, 2]} ; Crestani, Carlos C. ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Joint UFSCar UNESP Grad Program Physiol Sci, Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Pharmacol Lab, Rodovia Araraquara Jau Km 01, Campus Univ, BR-14800903 Araraquara, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology; v. 29, n. 5, p. 672-680, MAY 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The lateral hypothalamus (LH) has been described as one of the hypothalamic areas involved in the behavioral and physiological responses triggered by aversive stimuli. Previous studies indicated involvement of the LH in cardiovascular responses to stress. Despite this evidence, the local neurochemical mechanisms involved in LH control of stress responses is still poorly understood. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the role of GABAergic neurotransmission within the LH in cardiovascular responses induced by an acute session of restraint stress in rats. For this, we evaluated the effect of bilateral microinjection of selective antagonists of either GABA A or GABA B receptors into the LH on arterial pressure increase, heart rate (HR) increase and reduction in tail skin temperature induced by restraint stress. We found that microinjection of the selective GABA A receptor antagonist SR95531 into the LH decreased the increase in HR caused by restraint stress, but without affecting the increase in arterial pressure increase or the reduction in tail skin temperature. Conversely, LH treatment with the selective GABA B receptor antagonist CGP35348 did not affect the restraint-evoked cardiovascular changes. These findings indicate that GABAergic neurotransmission in the LH, acting through activation of local GABA A receptors, plays a facilitatory role in the tachycardic response observed during aversive threats. (c) 2019 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/05922-9 - Study of the participation of CRF neurotransmission in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in cardiovascular changes evoked by stress: interaction with the NMDA receptor/nitric oxide / guanilil cycles / protein kinase g signaling pathway?
• Grantee: Carlos Cesar Crestani
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/05218-2 - Involvement of the Angiotensin II / AT1 receptor angiotensin 1-7 / Mas receptor signaling in the medial nucleus of the amygdala in the cardiovascular and anxiogenic responses to stress in rats
• Grantee: Willian Costa Ferreira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 16/05028-9 - Control of cardiovascular responses to stress by endocannabinoid neurotransmission in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in rats: interaction with the NMDA receptor/NO/cGMP/protein kinase g signaling pathway and involvement of lateral hypothalamus
• Grantee: Lucas Gomes de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/19249-0 - Involvement of angiotensinergic neurotransmissions of medial amygdaloid nucleus in control of cardiovascular and anxiogenic responses to stress in rats.
• Grantee: Carlos Cesar Crestani
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants