Estrogen-dependent enhancement of NO production in the nucleus tractus solitarius contributes to ethanol-induced hypotension in conscious female rats

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Abdel A. Abdel-Rahman (Creator)

Guichu Li (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Background- Our previous pharmacological and cellular studies showed that peripheral (cardiac and vascular) NOS-derived NO is implicated in the estrogen-dependent hypotensive action of ethanol in female rats. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that enhanced NO production in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) is implicated in the estrogen-dependent hypotensive action of ethanol. Methods- To achieve this goal we utilized in vivo electrochemistry to measure real time changes in neuronal NO to investigate the acute effects of intragastric ethanol (0 0.5 or 1 g/kg) on NO in NTS neurons blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in conscious female rats in the absence (ovariectomized OVX rats) or presence of estrogen. Results- In sham operated (SO) rats ethanol elicited dose-related increase in NTS NO and reduction in BP. These neurochemical and blood pressure effects of ethanol were absent in OVX rats. Whether the neurochemical effect of ethanol and the associated hypotension are dependent on rapid estrogen signaling was investigated. In OVX rats pretreated 30 min earlier with estrogen (E2 ug/kg) intragastric ethanol (1 g/kg) increased NTS NO and reduced BP and these responses were comparable to those obtained in SO rats. Conclusions- The present findings suggest that increased production of NO in NTS neurons contributes to ethanol-evoked hypotension in female rats. Further ethanol enhancement of neuronal NO production in the brainstem is dependent on rapid estrogen signaling. Originally published Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research Vol. 33 No. 2 Feb 2009

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Publication

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Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 33:2(February 2009) p. 366-374.

Language: English

Date: 2011

Keywords

electrochemistry, NO, NTS, Ethanol, LPS, conscious rat

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