Authors: Yumi Takemoto
Publish Date: 2014/04/04
Volume: 46, Issue: 7, Pages: 1707-1713
Abstract
The sulfurcontaining excitatory amino acid EAA lcysteine sulfinic acid CSA a neurotransmitter candidate is endogenously synthesized from lcysteine Cys Exogenous Cys administration into the brain produces cardiovascular effects these effects likely occur via synaptic stimulation of central nervous system CNS neurons that regulate peripheral cardiovascular function However the cardiovascular responses produced by CNS Cys administration could result from CSA biosynthesized in synapse The present study examined the role of CSA in Cysinduced cardiovascular responses within the nucleus tractus solitarius NTS of anesthetized rats The NTS receives input from various visceral afferents that gate autonomic reflexes including cardiovascular reflexes Within the NTS both Cys and CSA microinjections produced decrease responses in arterial blood pressure and heart rate that were similar to those produced by lglutamate Coinjection of the ionotropic EAA receptor antagonist kynurenic acid abolished Cys but not CSA induced cardiovascular responses This finding suggests that only Cysinduced cardiovascular responses are mediated by kynurenatesensitive receptors This study provides the first demonstration that Cys and CSAinduced cardiovascular responses occur via different mechanisms in the NTS of rats Further this study also indicates that Cysinduced cardiovascular responses do not occur via CSA Thus within the NTS endogenous Cys and/or CSA might be involved in cardiovascular regulation
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