: Body fluid homeostasis depends on reflexes which act to modulate the rate of renal water and sodium loss and on ingestive behaviors (i.e., thirst and salt appetite) that correct deficits. Although renal mechanisms can slow fluid loss, the restoration of vascular volume depends on the ingestion of water and solute (e.g., sodium). The maintenance of extra-cellular volume requires that the CNS receives and processes information about the status of body water and sodium. Several visceral sensory systems are known to provide this afferent input but there is only a very limited understanding about how this information is handled by the CNS. The present proposal builds upon our prior studies on the central processing of afferent signals involved in body fluid and cardiovascular homeostasis. Experiments using a rapid-onset model of sodium depletion accompanied by mild hypotension will focus on defining the role of serotonergic and cholecystokinergic mechanisms associated with the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) that we have implicated in the regulation of extracellular fluid volume. The proposed studies employing functional (behavioral), pharmacological, electrophysiological and neuroanatomical methods are designed to lead to converging experimental findings to increase our understanding of how the brain processes information necessary for maintaining body fluid and cardiovascular homeostasis. Such new information has relevance for the well-being of normal individuals exposed to physiological (exercise) and environmental (heat) challenges and for understanding mechanisms underlying pathological conditions related to fluid balance (e.g., hypertension; congestive heart failure; renal disease).

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01HL057472-06
Application #
6438107
Study Section
Experimental Cardiovascular Sciences Study Section (ECS)
Program Officer
Barouch, Winifred
Project Start
1997-01-01
Project End
2005-11-30
Budget Start
2001-12-01
Budget End
2002-11-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$183,750
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Iowa
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
041294109
City
Iowa City
State
IA
Country
United States
Zip Code
52242
Thunhorst, Robert L; Beltz, Terry; Johnson, Alan Kim (2014) Age-related declines in thirst and salt appetite responses in male Fischer 344×Brown Norway rats. Physiol Behav 135:180-8
Whalen, Erin J; Johnson, Alan Kim; Lewis, Stephen J (2014) Hemodynamic responses elicited by systemic injections of isotonic and hypertonic saline in hemorrhaged rats. Microvasc Res 91:22-9
Thunhorst, Robert L; Beltz, Terry G; Johnson, Alan Kim (2013) Effects of aging on mineralocorticoid-induced salt appetite in rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 305:R1498-505
Thunhorst, Robert L; Grobe, Connie L; Beltz, Terry G et al. (2011) Effects of ?-adrenergic receptor agonists on drinking and arterial blood pressure in young and old rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 300:R1001-8
Acerbo, Martin J; Johnson, Alan Kim (2011) Behavioral cross-sensitization between DOCA-induced sodium appetite and cocaine-induced locomotor behavior. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 98:440-8
Thunhorst, Robert L; Beltz, Terry G; Johnson, Alan Kim (2010) Drinking and arterial blood pressure responses to ANG II in young and old rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 299:R1135-41
Grippo, Angela J (2009) Mechanisms underlying altered mood and cardiovascular dysfunction: the value of neurobiological and behavioral research with animal models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 33:171-80
De Gobbi, Juliana I F; Beltz, Terry G; Johnson, Ralph F et al. (2009) Non-NMDA receptors in the lateral parabrachial nucleus modulate sodium appetite. Brain Res 1301:44-51
Grippo, Angela J; Johnson, Alan Kim (2009) Stress, depression and cardiovascular dysregulation: a review of neurobiological mechanisms and the integration of research from preclinical disease models. Stress 12:1-21
Thunhorst, Robert L; Beltz, Terry G; Johnson, Alan Kim (2009) Hypotension- and osmotically induced thirst in old Brown Norway rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 297:R149-57

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