Altered GABA(A) alpha 5 subunit expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of hypertensive and pregnant rats

作者：Cork S C; Chazot P L; Pyner S^*

来源：Neuroscience Letters, 2016, 620: 148-153.

DOI：10.1016/j.neulet.2016.03.031

• Hypertension
• Late-term pregnant rats
• GABA(A) receptor alpha 5 subunit expression
• Sympatho-excitation
• Paraventricular nucleus of the
• hypothalamus

A characteristic of both hypertension and pregnancy is increased sympathetic nerve activity. The level of sympathetic activation is determined, in part, by a tonic GABAergic inhibition arising from the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). In hypertension, decreases in GABAergic inhibition and increases in glutamatergic excitation within the PVN contribute to this sympatho-excitation. In late-term pregnancy however, the sympatho-excitation appears to be mediated by decreases in GABAergic inhibition only. This study examined whether changes in subunit expression for GABA(A) receptors in the PVN could provide a molecular basis for the sympatho-excitation characteristic of hypertension and pregnancy. Hypertension and pregnancy were accompanied by significant decrease in the GABA(A) receptor alpha 5 subunit in the PVN. We suggest that decreases in the alpha 5 subunit of the GABA(A) receptor may be important in mediating the sympatho-excitation observed in both hypertension and pregnancy.

• 出版日期2016-5-4