Effects of chemical stimulation of the rostral and caudal ventrolateral medulla on cerebral and renal microcirculation in rats.

We investigated the effects of neurons in the rostral and caudal ventrolateral medulla (RVL and CVL) on cerebral and renal microcirculation in rats. Rats were anesthetized with chloralose, paralyzed with tubocurarine, and artificially ventilated. Cerebral and renal blood flows (CBF and RBF) were measured simultaneously using laser-Doppler flowmetry. Chemical stimulation of the RVL neurons by microinjection of the excitatory amino acid L-glutamate increased arterial pressure (AP), whereas that of the CVL neurons decreased AP. Stimulation of the RVL neurons also elicited a stimulus-locked increase in CBF and a decrease in RBF. The percent change in CBF and RBF was dose-dependent as stimulus intensity was increased. Cerebral and renal vascular resistance (CVR and RVR) levels were calculated from changes in CBF or RBF and changes in mean AP. The percent reduction in CVR and percent elevation in RVR were also dose-dependent. Chemical stimulation of the CVL neurons elicited a stimulus-locked decrease in CBF and an increase in RBF. The percent reduction in CBF and percent elevation in CVR were dose-dependent. The percent reduction in RVR was also dose-dependent, while the percent elevation in RBF was not significant. Blood withdrawal reduced AP by a similar degree to CVL stimulation, but did not significantly decrease CBF. The results suggest that RVL and CVL neurons integrate cerebral and systemic microcirculation.