While coordinated activities of the sympathetic and neuroendocrine systems are essential for proper maintenance of cardiovascular (CV) homeostasis, sustained sympathohumoral activation is highly detrimental, contributing to CV disorders including hypertension. Thus, elucidating mechanisms regulating sympathohumoral activation is critical for the prevention and more efficient treatment of hypertension. The hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) nucleus plays pivotal roles in the generation of sympathohumoral responses. Neuronal activity within this nucleus is controlled by a balance between intrinsic properties and extrinsic synaptic inputs. In recent studies, we showed that the A-type K+ current (IA) inhibits PVN firing activity, and that blunted IA function contributes to enhanced neuronal activity in hypertension. Another major pathogenic factor in hypertension is increased glutamate NMDA receptor function. However, whether these two distinct mechanisms are functionally and causally coupled, is at present unknown. Using a multidisciplinary approach combining in vitro and in vivo studies, we obtained exciting preliminary data supporting a causal link between extrasynaptic NMDARs and IA in mediating increased neuronal activity and sympathoumoral activation in hypertension. Moreover we found astrocytes to be pivotal players influencing the efficacy of the eNMDAR-IA coupling. In this proposal, we will test the central hypothesis that over-activation of eNMDARs and its negative coupling to IA is a major contributing factor underlying increased neuronal activity and sympathohumoral activation in hypertension. The main objective of this application is to characterize the signaling mechanisms underlying the eNMDAR-IA coupling. Moreover, we aim to elucidate the relative contribution of (a) altered glial function and (b) intrinsic neuronal mechanisms to overactivation of the eNMDAR-IA coupling, and increased neuronal activity and sympathohumoral activation in hypertensive rats. Using a renovascular hypertensive animal model, we propose the following Specific Aims:
Aim 1 - To characterize the functional coupling between eNMDARs and IA;
Aim 2 - To determine if altered glial function contributes to enhanced eNMDAR-IA coupling in hypertensive rats;
and Aim 3 - To determine if altered neuronal mechanisms contribute to enhanced eNMDAR-IA coupling in hypertensive rats. We expect this work to expand our knowledge on basic neurobiological principles implicated in the generation of homeostatic neurohumoral responses. More importantly, we expect to identify key pathophysiological brain mechanisms contributing to maldaptive neurohumoral responses in hypertension. We hope our work will help in the development of novel and more efficient therapeutic strategies for the treatment of hypertensive conditions.

Public Health Relevance

Hypertension is a major public health problem in the USA, is characterized by increased activity of the autonomic and neuroendocrine system (neurohumoral activation), which strongly influences morbidity and mortality in these patients. However, the precise mechanisms underlying neurohumoral remain unknown. In this proposal, we will use a multidisciplinary approach to test a series of novel hypothesis that aim to elucidate signaling mechanisms within the central nervous system that contribute to neurohumoral activation in hypertension. We expect our work to provide novel information on mechanisms underlying altered neuronal function in hypertensive patients, and to help in the development of novel and more efficient therapeutic strategies for the treatment of prevalent complications in hypertension.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL112225-03
Application #
8669816
Study Section
Hypertension and Microcirculation Study Section (HM)
Program Officer
Maric-Bilkan, Christine
Project Start
2012-06-01
Project End
2016-05-31
Budget Start
2014-06-01
Budget End
2015-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$367,500
Indirect Cost
$122,500
Name
Georgia Regents University
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
966668691
City
Augusta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30912
de Kloet, Annette D; Wang, Lei; Pitra, Soledad et al. (2017) A Unique ""Angiotensin-Sensitive"" Neuronal Population Coordinates Neuroendocrine, Cardiovascular, and Behavioral Responses to Stress. J Neurosci 37:3478-3490
Zhang, Meng; Stern, Javier E (2017) Altered NMDA receptor-evoked intracellular Ca2+ dynamics in magnocellular neurosecretory neurons of hypertensive rats. J Physiol 595:7399-7411
de Kloet, Annette D; Pitra, Soledad; Wang, Lei et al. (2016) Angiotensin Type-2 Receptors Influence the Activity of Vasopressin Neurons in the Paraventricular Nucleus of the Hypothalamus in Male Mice. Endocrinology 157:3167-80
Stern, Javier E; Son, Sookjin; Biancardi, Vinicia C et al. (2016) Astrocytes Contribute to Angiotensin II Stimulation of Hypothalamic Neuronal Activity and Sympathetic Outflow. Hypertension 68:1483-1493
Pitra, Soledad; Feng, Yumei; Stern, Javier E (2016) Mechanisms underlying prorenin actions on hypothalamic neurons implicated in cardiometabolic control. Mol Metab 5:858-68
Biancardi, V C; Stern, J E (2016) Compromised blood-brain barrier permeability: novel mechanism by which circulating angiotensin II signals to sympathoexcitatory centres during hypertension. J Physiol 594:1591-600
Reis, Wagner L; Yi, Chun-Xia; Gao, Yuanqing et al. (2015) Brain innate immunity regulates hypothalamic arcuate neuronal activity and feeding behavior. Endocrinology 156:1303-15
Du, Wenting; Stern, Javier E; Filosa, Jessica A (2015) Neuronal-derived nitric oxide and somatodendritically released vasopressin regulate neurovascular coupling in the rat hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus. J Neurosci 35:5330-41
Stern, J E (2015) Neuroendocrine-autonomic integration in the paraventricular nucleus: novel roles for dendritically released neuropeptides. J Neuroendocrinol 27:487-97
Kim, Ki Jung; Iddings, Jennifer A; Stern, Javier E et al. (2015) Astrocyte contributions to flow/pressure-evoked parenchymal arteriole vasoconstriction. J Neurosci 35:8245-57

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