Central estrogenic pathways protect against the depressant action of acute nicotine on reflex tachycardia in female rats

We have previously shown that acute exposure of male rats to nicotine preferentially attenuates baroreceptor-mediated control of reflex tachycardia in contrast to no effect on reflex bradycardia. Here, we investigated whether female rats are as sensitive as their male counterparts to the baroreflex depressant effect of nicotine and whether this interaction is modulated by estrogen. Baroreflex curves relating reflex chronotropic responses evoked by i.v. doses (1–16 μg/kg) of phenylephrine (PE) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP), were constructed in conscious freely moving proestrus, ovariectomized (OVX), and estrogen (50 μg/kg/day s.c., 5 days)-replaced OVX (OVXE2) rats. Slopes of the curves were taken as a measure of baroreflex sensitivity (BRSPE and BRSSNP). Nicotine (100 μg/kg i.v.) reduced BRSSNP in OVX rats but not in proestrus or OVXE2 rats. The attenuation of reflex tachycardia by nicotine was also evident in diestrus rats, which exhibited plasma estrogen levels similar to those of OVX rats. BRSPE was not affected by nicotine in all rat preparations. Experiments were then extended to determine whether central estrogenic receptors modulate the nicotine–BRSSNP interaction. Intracisteral (i.c.) treatment of OVX rats with estrogen sulfate (0.2 μg/rat) abolished the BRSSNP attenuating effect of i.v. nicotine. This protective effect of estrogen disappeared when OVX rats were pretreated with i.c. ICI 182,780 (50 μg/rat, selective estrogen receptor antagonist). Together, these findings suggest that central neural pools of estrogen receptors underlie the protection offered by E2 against nicotine-induced baroreceptor dysfunction in female rats.

► Estrogen protects against the depressant effect of nicotine on reflex tachycardia.
► The baroreflex response and estrogen status affect the nicotine–BRS interaction.
► The protection offered by estrogen is mediated via central estrogen receptors.