Role of ventrolateral medulla in sympatholytic effect of 8-OHDPAT in rats.

In halothane-anesthetized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated rats, the putative 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptor agonist 8-OHDPAT (13.1 micrograms/kg iv) produced hypotension (-14.6 +/- 1.3 mmHg, n = 35), reduced lumbar sympathetic nerve discharge (SND, -17.8%, n = 35), and slowed the discharge rate of sympathoexcitatory neurons recorded in the rostroventrolateral medulla (RVLM, -17.6%, n = 20). The gain of the baroreflex was unaffected by the drug, but SND and RVLM unit discharges were silenced at significantly reduced levels of mean arterial pressure (MAP; 153 vs. 171 mmHg for SND, 155 vs. 172 mmHg for RVLM cells). Subsequent intravenous administration of the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist clonidine (5.3 micrograms/kg) produced an additional decrease in MAP (-21.2 +/- 1.9 mmHg, n = 24) and SND (-24%, n = 24), Bilateral microinjections of 8-OHDPAT into the RVLM (1 nmol/side, n = 9) or into the raphe pallidus-obscurus (2 injections of 1 nmol each, n = 7) also produced hypotension (-22.9 +/- 3.2 and -14.4 +/- 2.8 mmHg, respectively) and sympathoinhibition (-39.1 and -24.6%, respectively). Bilateral microinjection into RVLM of the alpha 2-adrenergic antagonists idazoxan (16 nmol/side, n = 6) or rauwolscine (2 nmol/side, n = 6) attenuated the sympatholytic effect of both 8-OHDPAT (13.1 micrograms/kg, iv) and clonidine (5.3 micrograms/kg iv). These results suggest that 8-OHDPAT may exert a portion of its central sympatholytic effect by activating alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in the rostroventral medulla.