• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.201-209
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• 1991

The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) has been established recently as a sympathoexcitatory area. The present study was conducted to investigate whether the somatosympathetic pressor and/or depressor responses are mediated through RVLM in cats anesthetized with ${\alpha}-chloralose$. An occipital craniectomy was performed and ventrolateral medulla were stimulated either electrically or chemically to evoke changes in arterial blood pressure. And then the effect of lesions in the ventrolateral medulla on the changes in blood pressure elicited by the peripheral nerve stimulation was observed. Followings are the results obtained: 1) Pressor areas were found in the ventrolateral medulla, lateral reticular nucleus and rostral dorsal area. 2) Depressor areas were found mainly in the ventrolateral medulla rostral to the pressor areas. 3) Some areas showed biphasic responses: a depressor response to lower frequency and a pressor response to higher frequency stimulation. 4) After electrical lesion in pressor area in RVLM, the somatosympathetic pressor response was abolished or depressed markedly. The somatosympathetic depressor response, however, remained after the lesion. 5) Electrical lesion in the depressor area abolished somatosympathetic depressor response. From the above results it is concluded that somatosympathetic pressor response is mediated through RVLM, while somatosympathetic depressor response is not mediated through RVLM.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.29-34
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• 1999

The hyperactivity of cholinergic system in the RVLM of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) may contribute to the sustained elevation of blood pressure. However, the hyperactivity mechanisms of cholinergic system are controversial. Thus, to clarify the mechanisms of cholinergic hyperactivity in RVLM of the SHR, we studied the activities of enzymes that participate in the biosynthesis and degradation of acetylcholine (ACh) and the density of muscarinic receptors in RVLM of the 14- to 18-week-old SHR and age-marched Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). Choline acetyltransferase activity was far greater in RVLM of SHR than that of WKY. $[^3H]ACh$ release from RVLM was also greater in SHR than in WKY. Acetylcholinesterase activity and $[^3H]NMS$ binding of RVLM slice of SHR were not significantly different from that of WKY. These results suggest that the enhanced cholinergic mechanisms in the RVLM of SHR is due to the enhanced presynaptic cholinergic tone rather than the altered postsynaptic mechanisms.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.79-84
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• 1996

A number of experimental evidences suggest that the rnun ventrolateral medulla(RVLM) is the final common pathway in the regulation of arterial blood pressure. A Voup of neurons in the RVLM, called the cardiovascular neurons (UN), show spontaneous activity temporally synchronized with the periodic cardiac cycle. These neurons affect the sympathetic nerve discharge(SND), thus are believed to be responsible for blood pressure control. The present experiment identified 98 UVNs in 42 cats based on the temporal relationships between each neuron's activity with both the cardiac cycle and SWD. In 20 UWL changes of spontaneous firing rate(FR) during the somatosympathetic reflex(SSR) were studied Five different firing patterns were observed during the pressor and depressor responses of SSR, implying that they form an interconnected neuronal circuit interacting with one another to generate efferent signals for blood pressure regulation. In the following companion paper, the firing patterns of CVN are analyzed to develop a minimal neuronal circuit model explaining the present experimental outcome.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.105-116
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• 1996

Rendering the brain ischemic would evoke the cerebral ischemic reflex which is characterized by an arterial pressor response, apnea and bradycardia. Since the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) is known to play a key role in the maintenance of normal cardiopulmonary activity, during the cerebral ischemic reflex some cardiac related cells should be excited and respiration related cells inhibited. In this context, the responses of RVLM neurons to systemie and focal hypoxia were analyzed in the present study. Twenty-five adult cats of either sex were anesthetized with ${\alpha}-chloralose$ and the single neuronal activities were identified from RVLM area. For the induction of focal hypoxia in the recording site, sodium cyanide was applied iontophoretically and for systemic hypoxia the animal was ventilated with nitrogen gas for a twenty-second period. Cellular activities were analyzed in terms of their discharge pattern and responses to the hypoxia by using post-stimulus time and single-pass time histograms. Of eighteen cardiac related cells recorded from the RVLM area, twelve cells were excited by iontophoresed sodium cyanide and of twenty-five respiration related cells, fourteen cells were excited by iontophoresed sodium cyanide. Remaining cells were either inhibited or unaffected. Eight of fifteen cells tested with iontophoresed sodium lactate were excited and remaining seven cells were inhibited. Systemic hypoxia induced by nitrogen gas inhalation elevated the arterial blood pressure, but excited, inhibited or unaffected the single neuronal activities. Some cells showed initial excitation followed by inhibition during the systemic hypoxia. Bilateral vagotomy resulted in a decrease of arterial pressor response to the systemic hypoxia, and a slight decrease in the rhythmicity related to cardiac and/or respiratory rhythms. The single neuronal responses to either systemic or focal hypoxia were not affected qualitatively by vagotomy. From the above results, it was concluded that the majority of the cardiac- and respiration- related neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla be excited by hypoxia, not through the mediation of peripheral chemoreceptors, and along with the remaining inhibited cells, all these cells be involved in the mediation of cerebral ischemic reflex.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제31권5호
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• pp.441-450
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• 1998

본 연구는 동맥혈압의 조절에 결정적 역할을 하는 상부연수 복외측부에 존재하는 심맥관계 활동과 관련 있는 신경세포들에 대해 iontophoresis 법으로 투여한 신경흥분전달물질의 작용기전을 규명하고자 하였다. 이를 위해서 $\alpha$-chloralose로 마취한 고양이를 실험동물로 하여 연수의 복외측부에 multibarrel 전극을 삽입하여 심맥관계 활동과 관련 있는 신경세포의 활동을 세포외기록법으로 확인한 후 세포에 iontophoresis법으로 투여한 glutamate, GABA(\ulcorner-aminobutyric acid) 및 bicuculline의 효과를 관찰하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1) 자발적으로 활동전압을 보이지 않는 세포에서 glutamate를 10초 주기로 5초간 iontophoresis할 때 주기적인 세포활동을 기록할 수 있었고 이 활동은 동시에 가한 GABA에 의하여 억제되었다. 2) 자발적으로 활동하고 있는 세포들에 대하여 glutamate를 투여하였을 때 활동전압의 빈도가 증가하였고 GABA에 의해서 억제되었다. 3) GABA억제제인 bicuculline을 단독으로 투여시 활동전압 빈도의 증가는 뚜렷하지 않았으나 GABA와 동시 투여시에는 GABA의 억제작용을 차단하였다. 4) GABA의 작용은 RVLM(rostral ventrolateral medulla) 세포의 주기적 활동과 basal discharge 모두를 감소시켰으나 주기적 양상이 없어진 세포는 드물었다. 5) 말초에 가한 유해자극에 의하여 유발된 신경세포 활동이 GABA에 의하여 억제되었다. 이상의 결과로부터 $\alpha$-chloralose로 마취한 고양이에서 GABA는 RVLM에 존재하는 심맥관계 신경세포들에 대하여 억제적으로 작용하나 bicuculline의 투여후에도 이들 세포들의 주기적 활동이 유지되는 점으로 보아 RVLM세포의 자발적 흥분에 대하여 감압반사의 흥분이 기여하는 바가 크지는 않을 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.477-486
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• 1996

통각정보나 과탄산증이 내재진통계를 활성화 시켜서 진통효과를 가져온다는 것은 잘 알려져 있다. 이 러한 일련의 과정에서 중추신경세포의-역활에 대한 체계적인 연구가 요구되는 바, 16마리의 성숙한 고 양이를 u-chloralose로 마취한 후 연수 및 좌골신경을 노출시켜, 상부연수의 복외측부(rostral ventrolateral medulla, 이후 RVLM으로 칭함)세포활동이 탄산가스분압의 변동에 어떠한 영향을 받는 지를 관찰하였다. RVLM에서 세포의 기록법으로 그 변화를 관찰한 바, 총 53개의 세포에서 자발적 인 활동을 보였고, 이 중 28개는 심맥관계 세포, 16개는 호흡관련 세포, 2개는 심맥관계-호흡 동시 관련 세포이었으며, 7개는 자발적 활동은 보이나 심 장주기나 호흡주기와 무관 하였다. 28개의 심맥관계 세포중 11개에서는 동맥혈내 탄산가스분압이 상승하였을때 세포 활동이 증가하고, 13개 세포에서는 반대로 감소하였으며, 나머지 4개 에서는 특별한 변화가 없었다. 16개의 호흡관련 세포중 9개에서는 동맥혈내 탄산가스분압이 상승하였을때 활동이 증가하고, 6개에 서는 감소하였으며 1개는 특별한 변화가 없었다 B개의 심맥관계-호흡관련 세포에서는 탄산\ulcorner스 분압의 상승에 큰 영향을 받지 않았다. 심 장 혹은 호흡주기와 무관하였던 7개의 세포중 4개는 동맥 혈 탄산가스 분압이 상승하였을때 세포 활 동이 감소하였고, 2개는 상승하였으며 1개는 큰 영향을 받지 않았다 말초신경 자극과 동시에 탄산가스분압을상승시켰을 때 심먹관계 세포의 A반응은큰 영향이 없었으 나 C반응은 상승하였다. 결론적으로 RVLM에는 동맥혈 탄산가스 분압이 상승하였을 때 활동이 증가하는 세포들이 존재하고, 이때 말초화학 감수기의 영 향보다는 탄산가스가 중추에 직접 작용할 가능성이 크며 과탄산증에 의한 내 재진통작용도 RVLM을 통하지는 않는다고 생각된다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.159-165
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• 2015

Input signals originating from baroreceptors and vestibular receptors are integrated in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) to maintain blood pressure during postural movement. The contribution of baroreceptors and vestibular receptors in the maintenance of blood pressure following hypotension were quantitatively analyzed by measuring phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinase (pERK) expression and glutamate release in the RVLM. The expression of pERK and glutamate release in the RVLM were measured in conscious rats that had undergone bilateral labyrinthectomy (BL) and/or sinoaortic denervation (SAD) following hypotension induced by a sodium nitroprusside (SNP) infusion. The expression of pERK was significantly increased in the RVLM in the control group following SNP infusion, and expression peaked 10 min after SNP infusion. The number of pERK positive neurons increased following SNP infusion in BL, SAD, and BL+SAD groups, although the increase was smaller than seen in the control group. The SAD group showed a relatively higher reduction in pERK expression when compared with the BL group. The level of glutamate release was significantly increased in the RVLM in control, BL, SAD groups following SNP infusion, and this peaked 10 min after SNP infusion. The SAD group showed a relatively higher reduction in glutamate release when compared with the BL group. These results suggest that the baroreceptors are more powerful in pERK expression and glutamate release in the RVLM following hypotension than the vestibular receptors, but the vestibular receptors still have an important role in the RVLM.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.185-197
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• 1993

The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) includes vasopressor neurons, which transmit activation signals to the intermediolateral nucleus (IML) of the spinal cord, where the preganglionic sympathetic nucleus is located, to raise arterial blood pressure (BP). However, controversy exists as to the possible depressor area in the RVLM and the pathway involved. The present study persued evidence far the location of depressor neurons and the pathway by simultaneously observing changes in BP and the firing rate (FR) of cardiovascular neurons (CVNs) in the RVLM during the somatosympathetic reflex (SSR) elicited by peripheral nerve stimulation, since CVNs are known to contribute to the generation of the sympathetic nerve discharge. In 42 cats, anaesthetized with $\alpha-chloralose$, single unit recording was performed, using carbon filament electrodes inserted into the RVLM, enabling estimation of the post R wave unit histogram (PR-UNlT) and the spike triggered average of sympathetic nerve discharge (STA-SND), allowing identification of CVNs. Antidromic stimulation of spinal $T_2$ segment was followed to determine whether the identified CVN projects axonal endings to the spinal cord (reticulospinal neuron). The sciatic nerve was electrically stimulated at $A\delta-intensity$ (1 mA, 0.1 ms), 1 Hz and C-intensity (10 mA, 0.5 ms), 20 Hz to elicit the depressor, and pressor responses of the SSR, respectively. Simultaneous measurement of CVN firing rate was made. Experimental results are summarized as follows. 1) 20 out of 98 CVNs had axonal projections to the spinal cord and 17 out of 98 CVNs showed FR changes during SSR. 2) Response patterns of FR and BP during SSR were classified into 8 types. 3) These 8 different response patterns could be further classified into those from pressor and depressor neurons. These results demonstrate that some CVNs were identifiable as reticulospinal neurons responding to anti-dromic stimulation and that CVNs operating as depressor neurons as well as pressor neurons exist in the RVLM, both of which are involved with SSR mediation. Therefore, evidence was found that an independent depressor pathway might be involved in the mediation of SSR.

• BMB Reports
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• 제54권12호
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• pp.620-625
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• 2021

Microglia are known to be activated in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of rats with cardiovascular diseases. However, the exact role of microglial activation in the plasticity of presympathetic PVN neurons associated with the modulation of sympathetic outflow remains poorly investigated. In this study, we analyzed the direct link between microglial activation and spontaneous firing rate along with the underlying synaptic mechanisms in PVN neurons projecting to the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). Systemic injection of LPS induced microglial activation in the PVN, increased the frequency of spontaneous firing activity of PVN-RVLM neurons, reduced GABAergic inputs into these neurons, and increased plasma NE levels and heart rate. Systemic minocycline injection blocked all the observed LPS-induced effects. Our results indicate that LPS increases the firing rate and decreases GABAergic transmission in PVN-RVLM neurons associated with sympathetic outflow and the alteration is largely attributed to the activation of microglia. Our findings provide some insights into the role of microglial activation in regulating the activity of PVN-RVLM neurons associated with modulation of sympathetic outflow in cardiovascular diseases.

• 한국한의학연구원논문집
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• 제12권3호통권18호
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• pp.59-67
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• 2006

Aims: Acupuncture has been used for the treatment of essential hypertension, but the efficacy and the mechanism of acupuncture in prevention of hypertension are still unclear. We tested the hypothesis that electroacupuncture (EA) applied to Baekhoe (GV20) changes NO/NOS system during development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and thereby causes the delay of development of hypertension in SHR. Methods: The male SHR rats in the developmental stages of hypertension (7-8 weeks) were randomly divided into three groups (control group, GV20 acupuncture group, and tail acupuncture group). And the age matched Wistar Koyto Rats (WKY) were randomly divided into two groups (nagative control, GV20 acupuncture group). EA treatments (10Hz, 1mA, 0.1ms) were carried out for 25 min/day for five consecutive days. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) was determined in conscious rats by the tail-cuff method using automatic BP mornitoring system. We investigated the activations of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in nuclei of solitary tract (NTS) and rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) of SHR by the western blotting method. Results: The SBP after the termination of EA stimulation applied to the GV20 was stabilized at $169.14{\pm}3.67$ mmHg which is lower value than that of the control group. The SBP of control group was elevated to $178.14{\pm}3.49$ mmHg. In addition, we evaluated NOS activity as well as iNOS protein expression of NTS and RVLM in both of SHR and WKY. The iNOS activity in NTS was significantly higher in SHR than in WKY. Furthermore, the iNOS activity of NTS showed significant decreases in EA groups compare to that of non treated SHR group. Although iNOS expression of RVLM showed non significant changes between SHR and WKY, EA significantly enhanced the iNOS expression in SHR. Our data support the hypothesis that delayed development of hypertension and altered iNOS expression of NTS and RVLM by EA stimulations in SHR rats. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that acupuncture can change NO/NOS system in NTS and RVLM, and exert beneficial role on development of hypertension.