Sleep apnea is characterized by increased sympathetic activity and is associated with systemic hypertension. Angiotensin (Ang) peptides have previously been shown to participate in the regulation of sympathetic tone and arterial pressure in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) neurons. We investigated the role of endogenous Ang peptides within the PVN to control blood pressure in a rat model of sleep apnea-induced hypertension. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250 g), instrumented with bilateral guide cannulae targeting the PVN, received chronic infusion of Ang antagonists (A-779, Ang-(1-7) antagonist; losartan and ZD7155, AT(1) antagonists; PD123319, AT(2) receptor antagonist, or saline vehicle). A separate group received an infusion of the GABA(A) receptor agonist (muscimol) to inhibit PVN neuronal activity independent of angiotensin receptors. After cannula placement, rats were exposed during their sleep period to eucapnic intermittent hypoxia (IH; nadir 5% O(2); 5% CO(2) to peak 21% O(2); 0% CO(2)) 20 cycles/h, 7 h/day, for 14 days while mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured by telemetry. In rats receiving saline, IH exposure significantly increased MAP (+12±2 mm Hg vs. Sham -2±1 mm Hg P<0.01). Inhibition of PVN neurons with muscimol reversed the increase in MAP in IH rats (MUS: -9±4 mm Hg vs. vehicle +12±2 mm Hg; P<0.01). Infusion of any of the Ang antagonists also prevented the rise in MAP induced by IH (A-779: -5±1 mm Hg, losartan: -9±4 mm Hg, ZD7155: -11±4 mm Hg and PD123319: -4±3 mm Hg; P<0.01). Our results suggest that endogenous Ang peptides acting in the PVN contribute to IH-induced increases in MAP observed in this rat model of sleep apnea-induced hypertension.
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