Sympathoexcitatory neurotransmission of the chemoreflex in the NTS of awake rats

Cardiovascular responses to chemoreflex activation by potassium cyanide (KCN, 20 mu g/rat iv) were analyzed before and after the blockade of ionotropic or metabotropic receptors into the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) of awake rats. Microinjection of ionotropic antagonists [6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione or kynurenic acid (Kyn)] into the lateral commissural NTS (NTSlat), the midline commissural NTS (NTSmid), or into both (NTSlat+mid), produced a significant increase in basal mean arterial pressure, and the presser response to chemoreflex activation was only partially reduced, whereas microinjection of Kyn into the NTSmid produced no changes in the presser response to the chemoreflex. The bradycardic response to chemoreflex activation was abolished by microinjection of Kyn into the NTSlat or into NTSlat+mid but not by Kyn microinjection into the NTSmid. Microinjection of alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine, a metabotropic receptor antagonist, into the NTSlat or NTSmid produced no changes in baseline mean arterial pressure or heart rate or in the chemoreflex responses. These results indicate that 1) the processing of the parasympathetic component (bradycardia) of the chemoreflex seems to be restricted to the NTSlat and was blocked by ionotropic antagonists and 2) the presser response of the chemoreflex was only partially reduced by microinjection of ionotropic antagonists and not affected by injection of metabotropic antagonists into the NTSlat or NTSmid or into NTSlat+mid in awake rats.