Cardiovascular and single-unit responses to microinjection of angiotensin II into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in rat

- Injection of Ang II into BNST produced a pressor response of 11 ± 1 mmHg for 2-8 min.
- Ang II had no consistent effect on heart rate.
- Ang II produced two types of single-unit responses, short excitatory and long inhibitory.
- These responses were mediated by AT1 receptors.

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) is part of the limbic system located in the rostral forebrain. BST is involved in behavioral, neuroendocrine and autonomic functions, including cardiovascular regulation. The angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor, AT1, was found in the BST, however its effects on the cardiovascular system and on single-unit responses have not been studied yet. In the present study, Ang II was microinjected into the BST of anesthetized rats and cardiovascular and single-unit responses were recorded simultaneously. Furthermore the responses were re-tested after the microinjection of a blocker of the AT1 receptor, losartan, into the BST. We found that microinjection of Ang II into the BST produced a pressor response of 11 ± 1 mmHg for a duration of 2-8 min. Ang II had no consistent effect on heart rate. It also produced two types of single-unit responses in the BST, short excitatory and long inhibitory. Blockade of AT1 receptors abolished both the cardiovascular and single-unit responses, indicating that the responses were mediated through AT1 receptors. These findings imply that Ang II may be utilized as a neurotransmitter and may play a role in returning blood pressure toward normal during hypotension.