Neuronal Fos-like immunoreactivity associated with dexamethasone-induced hypertension in rats and effects of glucagon-like peptide-2

AimsDexamethasone-induced hypertension models have been used to study the mechanisms of glucocorticoid-induced hypertension, but the role of glucocorticoids in central cardiovascular regulation is not clearly understood. In the present study, we investigated the sites associated with dexamethasone-induced hypertension in the central nervous system in rats. We further investigated whether glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) was effective for dexamethasone-induced hypertension.Main methodsMale Sprague–Dawley rats were treated with saline or dexamethasone (0.03 mg/kg/day, s.c) for 10 days. GLP-2 (60 μg/kg, i.v.) was given to rats after dexamethasone treatment. We measured systolic blood pressure by a tail-cuff method in conscious rats, and arterial blood pressure in anesthetized rats. Immunohistochemical techniques were used to detection of the c-fos protein (Fos).Key findingsFos-immunoreactivity (Fos-IR) in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) was higher in dexamethasone-treated rats than in saline-treated rats. However, Fos-IR in the infralimbic cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus was similar in saline-treated and dexamethasone-treated rats. Peripheral administration of GLP-2 reduced mean arterial blood pressure by 26%. After the peripheral administration of GLP-2, Fos-IR in the caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM) increased in dexamethasone-treated rats.SignificanceChronic dexamethasone treatment induced Fos-IR in the DMH. Peripheral administration of GLP-2 suppressed dexamethasone-induced hypertension in rats by enhancing inhibitory neuronal activity.