Effects of intracerebroventricular administration of neuropeptide W30 on neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in the conscious rat

We demonstrated that intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of NPW30 increases the arterial blood pressure (ABP), heart rate (HR), and plasma catecholamine concentrations in conscious rats. NPW has been reported to be an important stress mediator in the central nervous system that modulates the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathetic outflow. To examine the effects of NPW30 on the neural activity of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), which is an integrative center of the autonomic and endocrine functions relevant to stress responses, we simultaneously recorded the single-unit activity in the PVN, ABP, and HR in conscious freely moving rats. Of the non-phasic (irregular) PVN neurons (n = 35) examined, NPW30 (i.c.v. 3 nmol) elicited excitation in 22 neurons, inhibition in 7 neurons, and no response in 6 neurons, accompanied with increases in ABP and HR, whereas low-dose NPW30 (i.c.v. 0.3 nmol) did not affect the unit activity, ABP, or HR. Neurons that were affected by NPW30 were then further examined for their responses to perturbation in ABP and systemic administration of cholecystokinin-8 (CCK). The majority of neurons also showed responses to CCK, phenylephrine (PE), or nitroprusside (SNP). Our data suggest that central NPW30 modulates PVN neuronal activities, which might be involved in the regulation of cardiovascular function and energy balance through the autonomic nervous system, particularly, under stress-related conditions.