The sympathetic drive emanating from the brain is increased in animal models of hypertension and in patients with hypertension. The paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus is an important site for the control of sympathetic outflow through its projections to the sympathetically related sites in the brainstem and spinal cord. During the previous funding period, we have shown that augmented glutamatergic input contributes to increased excitability of PVN presympathetic neurons and elevated sympathetic vasomotor tone in an animal model of hypertension. However, little is known about the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the plasticity of glutamatergic input to the PVN and the sustained increase in sympathetic outflow in hypertension. Our preliminary data suggest that group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs, including mGluR1 and mGluR5) in the PVN regulate glutamatergic input to PVN presympathetic neurons and are involved in the maintenance of elevated sympathetic outflow in spontaneously hypertensive rats. In this competitive renewal proposal, we will use spontaneously hypertensive rats as an animal model of essential hypertenSion to test the central hypotheSiS that mGluR1 and mGluR5 in the PVN contribute to the increase in sympathetic vasomotor tone in hypertension.
The specific aims of this project are to determine (1) study the role of mGluR1 and mGluR5 in the PVN in elevated sympathetic vasomotor tone in hypertenSion and (2) determine the influence of hypertension on the functional role of mGluR1 and mGluR5 in the PVN in the control of sympathetic outflow. The important role of group I mGluRs in sustained increases in glutamatergic input and sympathetic outflow in hypertenSion has not been recognized previously. The proposed studies will provide substantial novel information about the mechanisms underlying glutamatergic synaptic plasticity and the persistent increase in sympathetic drive in hypertension. This new information also will be essential for our understanding of the role of the autonomic nervous system in the development of hypertension and for the design of more effective treatments for hypertension.

Public Health Relevance

This proposal will study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of changes in the excitatory neuro-transmission in the hypothalamus in hypertension. We will also determine the specific glutamate receptors that are involved in the increase in sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure. This information will be important for the understanding of the etiology of essential hypertension and for development of more effective treatments for patients with hypertension.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL077400-06
Application #
7923927
Study Section
Hypertension and Microcirculation Study Section (HM)
Program Officer
Thrasher, Terry N
Project Start
2004-07-01
Project End
2011-08-31
Budget Start
2010-09-01
Budget End
2011-08-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$408,296
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department
Anesthesiology
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
800772139
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
Zhu, Yun; Chen, Shao-Rui; Pan, Hui-Lin (2016) Muscarinic receptor subtypes differentially control synaptic input and excitability of cerebellum-projecting medial vestibular nucleus neurons. J Neurochem 137:226-39
Zhou, Meng-Hua; Bavencoffe, Alexis; Pan, Hui-Lin (2015) Molecular Basis of Regulating High Voltage-Activated Calcium Channels by S-Nitrosylation. J Biol Chem 290:30616-23
Wu, Zhaofei; Kim, Eun Ran; Sun, Hao et al. (2015) GABAergic projections from lateral hypothalamus to paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus promote feeding. J Neurosci 35:3312-8
Qi, Yitao; Wang, Jingxiong; Bomben, Valerie C et al. (2014) Hyper-SUMOylation of the Kv7 potassium channel diminishes the M-current leading to seizures and sudden death. Neuron 83:1159-71
Pachuau, Judith; Li, De-Pei; Chen, Shao-Rui et al. (2014) Protein kinase CK2 contributes to diminished small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel activity of hypothalamic pre-sympathetic neurons in hypertension. J Neurochem 130:657-67
Li, Li; Li, De-Pei; Chen, Shao-Rui et al. (2014) Potentiation of high voltage-activated calcium channels by 4-aminopyridine depends on subunit composition. Mol Pharmacol 86:760-72
Li, De-Pei; Zhu, Li-Hong; Pachuau, Judith et al. (2014) mGluR5 Upregulation increases excitability of hypothalamic presympathetic neurons through NMDA receptor trafficking in spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Neurosci 34:4309-17
Ye, Zeng-You; Li, De-Pei; Pan, Hui-Lin (2013) Regulation of Hypothalamic Presympathetic Neurons and Sympathetic Outflow by Group II Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. Hypertension 62:255-62
Ye, Zeng-You; Li, Li; Li, De-Pei et al. (2012) Casein kinase 2-mediated synaptic GluN2A up-regulation increases N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activity and excitability of hypothalamic neurons in hypertension. J Biol Chem 287:17438-46
Li, De-Pei; Byan, Hee Sun; Pan, Hui-Lin (2012) Switch to glutamate receptor 2-lacking AMPA receptors increases neuronal excitability in hypothalamus and sympathetic drive in hypertension. J Neurosci 32:372-80

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