Role of nitric oxide in the control of the heart rate within the nucleus ambiguous of rats

Piero Ruggeri, Antonio Battaglia, Rosa Ermirio, Elena Grossini, Claudio Molinari, David A.S.G. Mary, Giovanni Vacca

Risultato della ricerca: Contributo su rivistaArticolo in rivistapeer review

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether NO plays a role in the control of heart rate (HR) within the nucleus ambiguus (NA). Experiments were performed in 29 male Wistar rats anaesthetized with urethane. Microinjections of the NO-donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 5 mmol) as well as of L-arginine (L-arg; 50 mmol) into functionally identified cardioinhibitory sites within the NA significantly decreased HR (-57.7 +/- 8.4 and -53.8 +/- 3.2 bpm, respectively), whereas the NO-synthase inhibitor N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) significantly increased HR (+40 +/- 2.7 bpm). Bilateral vagotomy and i.v. injection of atropine (0.5mg/kg) always abolished the HR decrease induced by SNP and L-arg, whereas propranolol did not affect the HR responses. These results demonstrated that NO mechanisms within the NA play a role in the parasympathetic control of the HR.
Lingua originaleInglese
pagine (da-a)481-485
Numero di pagine5
RivistaNeuroReport
Volume11
Numero di pubblicazione3
DOI
Stato di pubblicazionePubblicato - 2000

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