Cholinergic systems in the posterior hypothalamic nucleus are involved in blood pressure decrease-induced excitation of anterior hypothalamic area neurons in rats

Previously, we have demonstrated that decreases in blood pressure induced by intravenous nitroprusside increase the firing rate of angiotensin II-sensitive neurons in the anterior hypothalamic area (AHA) of rats and that this increase of neural firing rate is blocked by the pressure application of losartan onto the same neurons. It has been suggested that acetylcholine in the posterior hypothalamic nucleus (PHN) serves as a neurotransmitter in a pathway which can modulate baroreceptor reflexes. In the present study, we examined whether acetylcholine in the PHN is involved in the nitroprusside-induced increase of the firing of angiotensin II-sensitive neurons in the AHA of rats. Male Wistar rats were anesthetized and artificially ventilated. Extracellular potentials were recorded from single neurons in the AHA. Decreases in blood pressure induced by intravenous nitroprusside (100 ug/kg) increased the firing rate of AHA angiotensin II-sensitive neurons. The nitroprusside-induced increase of firing rate of AHA neurons was inhibited by PHN microinjection of the cholinoceptor antagonist scopolamine and potentiated by PHN microinjection of the cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine. Microinjections of carbachol and glutamate into the PHN caused increases of firing rate of AHA neurons. The carbachol-induced but not glutamate-induced increase of unit firing was abolished by the pre-microinjection of scopolamine into the same sites of the PHN. These findings suggest that the nitroprusside-induced increase of firing of AHA neurons is mediated via acetylcholine at the level of the PHN.