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Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 276: R872-R879, 1999;
0363-6119/99 $5.00
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Vol. 276, Issue 3, R872-R879, March 1999

Vasopressin V2 receptor enhances gain of baroreflex in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats

Donella B. Sampey1, Louise M. Burrell2, and Robert E. Widdop1

1 Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168; and 2 University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia


    ABSTRACT
Top
Abstract
Introduction
METHODS
Results
Discussion
References

The aim of the present study was to determine the receptor subtype involved in arginine vasopressin (AVP)-induced modulation of baroreflex function in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats using novel nonpeptide AVP V1- and V2-receptor antagonists. Baroreceptor heart rate (HR) reflex was investigated in both SHR and WKY rats which were intravenously administered the selective V1- and V2-receptor antagonists OPC-21268 and OPC-31260, respectively. Baroreflex function was assessed by obtaining alternate pressor and depressor responses to phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside, respectively, to construct baroreflex curves. In both SHR and WKY rats baroreflex activity was tested before and after intravenous administration of vehicle (20% DMSO), OPC-21268 (10 mg/kg), and OPC-31260 (1 and 10 mg/kg). Vehicle did not significantly alter basal mean arterial pressure (MAP) and HR values or baroreflex function in SHR or WKY rats. The V1-receptor antagonist had no significant effect on resting MAP or HR values or on baroreflex parameters in both groups of rats, although this dose was shown to significantly inhibit the pressor response to AVP (5 ng iv; ANOVA, P < 0.05). In SHR but not WKY rats the V2-receptor antagonist significantly attenuated the gain (or slope) of the baroreflex curve (to 73 ± 3 and 79 ± 7% of control for 1 and 10 mg/kg, respectively), although AVP-induced pressor responses were also attenuated with the higher dose of the V2-receptor antagonist. These findings suggest that AVP tonically enhances baroreflex function through a V2 receptor in the SHR.

arginine vasopressin; OPC-21268; baroreceptor heart rate reflex


    INTRODUCTION
Top
Abstract
Introduction
METHODS
Results
Discussion
References

ARGININE VASOPRESSIN (AVP) is a powerful vasoconstrictor agent acting via specific V1 receptors in vasculature, as well as causing an antidiuretic effect via specific V2 receptors in kidney. In addition, it is well recognized that AVP enhances bradycardic function for a given pressor response to a greater extent than do other vasoconstrictors (2, 8, 9, 21), which thereby counteracts its own vasoconstrictor action. The mechanism of the action of AVP to modulate baroreflex control of heart rate (HR) is due to either a resetting of the baroreflex to a lower pressure level or an enhancement of the gain of the reflex (14, 20), although in the rat the latter mechanism predominates. Many investigators have attempted to identify the receptor subtype through which AVP acts to modulate baroreflex function. A study by Imai et al. (18) using Brattleboro rats, a strain that lacks endogenous AVP, showed that the reduced baroreflex sensitivity in these rats could be restored by infusion of both AVP and 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP), a V2-receptor agonist, whereas the specific V1-receptor antagonist d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP had no effect on baroreflex reflex sensitivity in normal rats after intravenous administration. These findings imply that AVP influences baroreflex function through a V2-like receptor. In a separate study, Unger et al. (29) confirmed the findings of Imai et al. (18), through the use of specific AVP-receptor antagonists. This study demonstrated that the baroreflex was significantly attenuated by intravenous treatment with a V2-receptor antagonist but not a V1-receptor antagonist. By contrast, Brizzee and Walker (2) found that a selective V2-receptor antagonist had no effect on baroreflex sensitivity, although the V2-receptor agonist-induced enhancement of baroreflex sensitivity was attenuated by either a V1- or V2-receptor antagonist, indicating a lack of receptor specificity of this effect.

The majority of previous studies investigating the receptor specificity of the modulation of baroreflex function by AVP have used peptide AVP-receptor antagonists in normotensive rats (2, 13, 29), although there are no data concerning the effect of AVP blockade on baroreflex function in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). More recently, selective nonpeptide AVP-receptor antagonists that do not exhibit agonist properties have been developed. These include the V1-receptor antagonist OPC-21268 (31) and the V2-receptor antagonist OPC-31260 (32). Binding studies using rat liver and kidney membranes have demonstrated that OPC-21268 is more than 10,000 times more selective for V1 receptors than V2 receptors (6), whereas OPC-31260 is approximately 25 times more selective for V2 receptors than V1 receptors (5). Therefore, the first aim of this study was to investigate the tonic role of AVP in baroreflex modulation in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats using the selective, nonpeptide AVP V1- and V2-receptor antagonists OPC-21268 and OPC-31260, respectively. It is also well recognized that baroreflex control of HR is impaired in SHR resulting in impaired reflex bradycardia and/or gain (15, 16, 19, 27, 30). Therefore, the second aim was to examine whether the V1- and V2-receptor antagonists exerted a differential effect on baroreflex function in SHR compared with WKY rats.


    METHODS
Top
Abstract
Introduction
METHODS
Results
Discussion
References

Animals. Studies were performed in male WKY rats and SHR aged between 15 and 20 wk old and weighing approximately 300 g. Animals were obtained from the Austin Hospital Research Laboratories and were housed and given food and water ad libitum.

Surgical procedures. Rats were anesthetized with methohexitone sodium (60 mg/kg ip, supplemented as required) for implantation of two catheters into the right jugular vein and also a catheter into the abdominal aorta via the caudal artery. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and HR were both electronically derived from the phasic blood pressure signal, the latter of which was recorded via a pressure transducer (Statham, Oxnard, CA) with all signals being recorded on a polygraph (Grass Instruments, Quincy, MA).

Baroreceptor reflex testing. Baroreflex function was tested in both WKY rats and SHR. Alternate pressor and depressor responses were obtained to phenylephrine (1-25 µg/kg iv) and sodium nitroprusside (1-50 µg/kg iv), respectively, via two microsyringes (Scientific Glass Engineering, Melbourne, Australia) attached to the two venous catheters. Each baroreflex curve was constructed from approximately 15-20 random doses of the two drugs, obtained by varying the volume injected (2-20 µl). Peak changes in MAP (not actual doses) and the associated reflex HR responses were recorded, and the data were fitted to the sigmoidal logistic equation
HR = P<SUB>1</SUB> + P<SUB>2</SUB>/[1 + <IT>e</IT><SUP>P<SUB>3</SUB>(MAP−P<SUB>4</SUB>)</SUP>]
where P1 is the lower HR plateau, P2 is the HR range, P3 is a curvature coefficient, and P4 is the BP50 value, which is the MAP value at the midpoint of the HR range. The average gain or slope of the MAP-HR curve calculated between the two inflection points is given by -P2 × P3/4.56, and the upper HR plateau by P1 + HR range. This method has previously been described in detail (17), and an example of a baroreflex curve fitted to raw data is provided in Fig. 1.


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Fig. 1.   Example of baroreceptor-heart rate (HR) reflex curve (solid line) fitted to raw data points () from spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). MAP, mean arterial pressure. See METHODS for details.

Baroreceptor reflex curves in WKY rats and SHR. All experiments were performed approximately 24-48 h after surgery in conscious, unrestrained rats. Initially, a baroreflex curve was commenced approximately 2 h before and approximately 15 min after administration of the vehicle (a 20% solution of DMSO in distilled water), i.e., two time control baroreflex curves were obtained. On a separate day a baroreflex curve was begun approximately 2 h before and approximately 15 min after the V1-receptor antagonist OPC-21268 (10 mg/kg iv). The antagonist was infused over a period of 1 min. This dose of OPC-21268 was chosen from preliminary studies, which demonstrated marked attenuation of AVP-induced pressor responses. To confirm an antagonist effect of OPC-21268, a submaximal dose of AVP (5 ng iv) was given before and approximately 10 min after vehicle or V1-receptor antagonist administration. The posttreatment baroreflex curve was commenced after the MAP and HR had returned to basal values following AVP injection. At the conclusion of the baroreflex curve AVP (5 ng iv) was again administered to confirm the degree of blockade caused by the antagonist. In a separate group of rats the effects of the vehicle and V2-receptor antagonist OPC-31260 (10 mg/kg iv) on baroreflex function were also tested in an identical protocol to that described for OPC-21268. However, in some cases, OPC-21268 and OPC-31260 were tested in the same WKY rats.

During the course of these studies (see Results), it was found that the V2-receptor antagonist partly attenuated the V1-receptor-mediated pressor effect evoked by AVP, whereas the V1-receptor antagonist failed to block AVP for the duration of the experiment. Therefore, another group of SHR was used in which both antagonists were given separated by at least 2 days, but in this instance baroreflex testing was completed within 45 min to ensure adequate V1-receptor blockade, and a 10-fold lower dose of the V2-receptor antagonist was given (1 mg/kg) because this dose has previously been shown to cause diuresis (12). Furthermore, in three additional SHR and three WKY rats, the diuretic effect of the V2-receptor antagonist (1 mg/kg) was measured over 1 h to determine if there was a strain-related difference with respect to changes in blood volume. To this end rats were placed in metabolic cages (Nalgene, Sybron Corporation) and allowed to habituate for 2 h before any urine collection took place.

Statistical analysis. Changes in MAP and HR from baseline values, pressor and bradycardic responses to AVP within treatment groups, as well as baroreflex curve parameters (e.g., gain) were all analyzed using one-way ANOVA with repeated measures. A statistical package (CLR ANOVA) on an Apple Macintosh computer was used to perform all ANOVAs, and when appropriate a Newman-Keuls post hoc test was performed. All results are given as means, with SE represented by error bars. Statistical significance was accepted as P < 0.05.


    RESULTS
Top
Abstract
Introduction
METHODS
Results
Discussion
References

Baroreflex curves in WKY rats. WKY rats received vehicle (n = 10) and either OPC-21268 (10 mg/kg iv, n = 8) or OPC-31260 (10 mg/kg iv, n = 7), although in 5 WKY rats both compounds were tested. Resting MAP and HR values were not significantly altered by vehicle or the V1- or the V2-receptor antagonist (Table 1). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the baroreflex parameters of WKY rats obtained before or after administration of vehicle, OPC-21268, or OPC-31260 (Fig. 2, Table 2).

                              
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Table 1.   Baseline MAP and HR values before and after vehicle, OPC-21268, and OPC-31260 in SHR and WKY rats



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Fig. 2.   Mean baroreflex MAP-HR curves in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats before (solid lines) and after (dashed lines) administration of vehicle (DMSO, n = 10, A), V1-receptor antagonist OPC-21268 (10 mg/kg iv, n = 8, B), and V2-receptor antagonist OPC-31260 (10 mg/kg iv, n = 7, C) (series 1). , resting values; vertical lines, SE of upper and lower HR plateaus. See Table 2 for baroreflex curve parameters.

                              
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Table 2.   Baroreflex curve parameters before and after vehicle, OPC-21268, and OPC-31260 in WKY rats

In the same animals, AVP (5 ng iv) was tested before and at various times (10 and 90 min) after vehicle (20% DMSO), OPC-21268, and OPC-31260 to confirm functional blockade of AVP receptors. In the vehicle control both the pressor and bradycardic (data not shown) responses evoked by AVP (5 ng iv) were highly reproducible throughout the duration of the baroreflex curves in WKY rats (Fig. 3). However, the MAP responses to intravenous AVP were significantly attenuated 10 min after administration of either V1- or V2-receptor antagonist and also at the completion of the curve (P < 0.01; Fig. 3).


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Fig. 3.   Pressor responses evoked by arginine vasopressin (AVP, 5 ng iv) in WKY rats before (pre) and approximately 10 and 90 min after vehicle (DMSO, n = 10, A), V1-receptor antagonist OPC-21268 (10 mg/kg iv, n = 8, B), and V2-receptor antagonist OPC-31260 (10 mg/kg iv, n = 7, C). ** P < 0.01 vs. control AVP response (ANOVA).

Baroreflex curves in SHR. Initially, two different groups of SHR received vehicle and either OPC-21268 (10 mg/kg iv, n = 7) or OPC-31260 (10 mg/kg iv, n = 6). Neither vehicle (combined groups) nor the V1- or the V2-receptor antagonist had a significant effect on resting MAP and HR values (Table 1).

In the two groups of SHR, vehicle had a negligible effect on the baroreflex, and for clarity these data have been combined. In SHR, baroreflex parameters were not significantly altered after treatment with either vehicle or V1-receptor antagonist (Fig. 4, Table 3). However, treatment with V2-receptor antagonist resulted in a significant attenuation of the gain of the curve (-3.13 ± 0.35 to -2.38 ± 0.19 beats · min-1 · mmHg-1) and an increase in the BP50 (152 ± 5 to 163 ± 5 mmHg, P < 0.05; Fig. 4, Table 3). In the same SHR, AVP (5 ng iv) caused highly reproducible pressor and bradycardic (data not shown) responses throughout the vehicle control baroreflex curves. Therefore, these data have been combined (n = 13; Fig. 5). Pressor responses evoked by AVP were significantly attenuated immediately after administration of OPC-21268, although the V1 receptor blockade was not sustained over the 90-min observation period. Surprisingly, the V2-receptor antagonist also attenuated the pressor effect of AVP (P < 0.05; Fig. 5).


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Fig. 4.   Mean baroreflex MAP-HR curves in SHR before (solid lines) and after (dashed lines) administration of vehicle (DMSO, n = 13, A), V1-receptor antagonist OPC-21268 (10 mg/kg iv, n = 7, B), and V2-receptor antagonist OPC-31260 (10 mg/kg iv, n = 6, C) (series 1). , resting values; vertical lines, SE of upper and lower HR plateaus. See Table 3 for baroreflex curve parameters.

                              
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Table 3.   Baroreflex curve parameters before and after vehicle, OPC-21268, and OPC-31260 in SHR



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Fig. 5.   Pressor responses evoked by AVP (5 ng iv) in SHR before (pre) and approximately 10 and 90 min after vehicle (DMSO, n = 13, A), V1-receptor antagonist OPC-21268 (10 mg/kg iv, n = 7, B), and V2-receptor antagonist OPC-31260 (10 mg/kg iv, n = 6, C). * P < 0.05 and ** P < 0.01 vs. control AVP response (ANOVA).

Given that the effect of the V1-receptor antagonist waned during baroreflex testing and the V2-receptor antagonist exhibited some degree of nonselectivity, a second series of baroreflex experiments was performed. The V1-receptor antagonist was tested at the same dose, but the baroreflex testing was completed within 45 min to ensure substantial V1 receptor blockade, whereas the V2-receptor antagonist was administered at a 10-fold lower dose. As noted previously, neither antagonist altered MAP or HR. However, as can be seen in Fig. 6, the pressor responses evoked by AVP were markedly attenuated by the V1-receptor antagonist throughout duration of the baroreflex testing but not by the V2-receptor antagonist at this dose. Furthermore, under these conditions, the V1-receptor antagonist was still unable to modify the baroreflex function, whereas OPC-31260, at 1 mg/kg, again significantly decreased the gain of the baroreflex (Table 4, Fig. 7). Indeed, the percentage changes in gain (to 73 ± 3 and 79 ± 7% of control) were very similar in both series of experiments using the V2-receptor antagonist at either 1 or 10 mg/kg, respectively (Fig. 7). Additionally, the V2-receptor antagonist induced diuresis, which was similar in SHR and WKY rats (1.36 ± 0.39 ml/h and 1.28 ± 0.67 ml/h, respectively, both n = 3), whereas there was no diuresis in the preceding control period (0.07 ± 0.07 ml/h and 0 ml/h, respectively).


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Fig. 6.   Pressor responses evoked by AVP (5 ng iv) in SHR before (pre) and approximately 10 and 45 min after V1-receptor antagonist OPC-21268 (10 mg/kg iv, n = 8, A) and V2-receptor antagonist OPC-31260 (1 mg/kg iv, n = 8, B). ** P < 0.01 vs. control AVP response (ANOVA).

                              
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Table 4.   Baroreflex curve parameters before and after OPC-21268 (series 2) and OPC-31260 in SHR



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Fig. 7.   Mean baroreflex MAP-HR curves in SHR before (solid lines) and after (dashed lines) administration of V1-receptor antagonist OPC-21268 (10 mg/kg iv, n = 8, A) and V2-receptor antagonist OPC-31260 (1 mg/kg iv, n = 8, B) (series 2). C: summary of antagonist-induced change in gain of baroreflex MAP-HR curves in SHR. Effect of V1 antagonist OPC-21268 in which there was incomplete (open bar) or complete (vertically lined bar) AVP blockade (data from Figs. 4B and 7A, respectively), and V2 antagonist OPC-31260 at 10 mg/kg (with partial AVP blockade, solid bar) and 1 mg/kg (no AVP blockade, horizontally lined bar) (data from Figs. 4C and 7B, respectively). , resting values; vertical lines, SE of upper and lower HR plateaus. See Table 4 for baroreflex curve parameters. * P < 0.05 vs. control.


    DISCUSSION
Top
Abstract
Introduction
METHODS
Results
Discussion
References

This study investigated the effects of the novel nonpeptide AVP V1- and V2-receptor antagonists OPC-21268 and OPC-31260, respectively, on baroreflex function in both SHR and WKY rats and has provided an insight into the involvement of AVP in the tonic modulation of baroreflex function and the specific receptor subtype involved in this effect.

The peripheral administration of the V1-receptor antagonist OPC-21268 had no effect on baroreflex parameters in either SHR or WKY rats, although this dose was shown to significantly attenuate the pressor and bradycardic responses to exogenously applied AVP. However, OPC-21268 failed to maintain a substantial V1-receptor blockade, as evidenced by the partial restoration of the AVP-induced pressor response in SHR at the end of baroreflex testing. This relatively short duration of action is in keeping with the effect of the V1-receptor antagonist in binding studies in kidney membranes (6). Nevertheless, in a second series of experiments when the baroreflex was tested during maximal AVP blockade, a similar lack of effect of the V1-receptor antagonist on baroreflex function was noted. These data are consistent with studies by Brizzee and Walker (2) and Unger et al. (29) who found that the peptide V1-receptor antagonist d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP had no effect on baroreflex function in normotensive rats when given intravenously.

In SHR the V2-receptor antagonist OPC-31260 (10 mg/kg iv) significantly decreased the gain of the baroreflex curve and increased the BP50, although in WKY rats there was no significant change in the gain of the curve. However, these results were complicated by the fact that the V2-receptor antagonist also caused an attenuation of the pressor and bradycardic responses of AVP, which was surprising because the pressor effect of AVP is mediated via V1 receptors. Thus, whereas OPC-31260 preferentially blocks V2 receptors (4, 5, 32), these results confirm other in vitro studies which have shown that OPC-31260 also possesses V1-receptor antagonist activity (4, 5). Therefore, in a second series of experiments, we used a 10-fold lower dose of the V2-receptor antagonist, which did not alter AVP-induced vasoconstriction but which produced a remarkably similar reduction in baroreflex gain. Collectively, these results imply that even at the higher dose of the V2-receptor antagonist, there was a clear functional separation between V1-receptor blockade (i.e., attenuated AVP pressor activity) and V2-receptor blockade (i.e., decreased baroreflex gain) caused by OPC-31260. Thus these data are consistent with the well-documented enhancement of baroreflex function by either AVP or the selective V2-receptor agonist dVDAVP (2, 18, 28), together with the demonstration that the peptide V2-receptor antagonist d(CH2)5(D-Ile2, Abu4)AVP significantly attenuated the gain of the baroreflex (29). Collectively, these data suggest that the AVP-induced enhancement of baroreflex gain is mediated through V2 receptors.

It is unclear why the V2-receptor antagonist did not alter baroreflex function significantly in WKY rats but did so in SHR. It is well recognized that baroreflex function is attenuated in SHR. This is largely due to an impairment of the cardiac vagal component of the baroreflex in SHR (16), resulting in a reduced reflex bradycardia and/or gain (15, 19, 27, 30). Therefore, it may have been expected that rather than cause further impairment of the baroreflex of the SHR, OPC-31260 would attenuate baroreflex gain in WKY rats, as observed in a previous study using a peptide V2-receptor antagonist (29). However, this effect did not occur in the present study with a nonpeptide V2-receptor antagonist nor in a previous study with a different peptide V2-receptor antagonist (2). Interestingly, our baroreflex data are consistent with the recent finding that administration of this V2-receptor antagonist to young SHR actually augmented the development of hypertension (23). Therefore, it is feasible that a further blunting of baroreceptor reflex function in SHR caused by the V2-receptor antagonist may have exacerbated the development of hypertension in this model (23).

Alternatively, it is feasible that the V2-receptor antagonist caused diuresis and that baroreflex was altered by volume contraction. The lower dose of OPC-31260 used in the present study did cause diuresis as has previously been reported (12). However, there was no evidence of an enhanced diuretic response to the V2-receptor antagonist in SHR which indicates that stain-related differences in volume contraction do not account for baroreflex changes in SHR. Moreover, this idea seems unlikely because the V2-receptor antagonist did not reduce the baroreflex gain in the WKY group even at the 10-fold higher dose of the compound.

Another possible explanation for the inhibitory effect of the V2-receptor antagonist on baroreflex function solely in SHR may relate to circulating AVP levels. Previous studies have shown that plasma AVP levels are elevated in SHR (11, 22), possibly to help offset the impairment of baroreflex function. Thus the V2-receptor antagonist may have blocked the tonic effect of the increased circulating levels of AVP on enhancing baroreflex gain in SHR. This may explain why this antagonist had no effect in WKY rats, whereas the decrease in gain in SHR may represent the blockade of AVP-induced facilitation of baroreflex function. However, this interpretation is complicated by the fact that AVP levels are not always elevated in SHR (7).

The site(s) where AVP may act to modulate baroreflex function are beyond the scope of the present experiments. However, others have suggested that circumventricular organs accessible from the periphery, such as the area postrema (26), as well as regions within the periphery, such as the carotid sinus (28), may be involved in this effect. In both rabbits (10, 28) and normotensive rats (25), investigators have found that lesioning of the area postrema abolishes the differential reflex bradycardic effects of AVP and phenylephrine, thereby suggesting that the area postrema does in fact mediate the AVP-induced facilitation of the baroreflex (14). Interestingly, a recent review points out that there are data that implicate V1 receptors in the resetting of the baroreflex toward lower pressure and the likely role of the area postrema (14). Indeed, it was suggested that the reported ability of AVP to increase baroreflex gain was related to experimental design, in that AVP evoked a larger decrease in HR compared with other agents causing equieffective pressor responses, but the situation was complicated by the concomitant increase in arterial pressure caused by AVP (14). However, in the present and previous (1, 3, 24, 30) studies, we have used a baroreflex procedure involving raising and lowering MAP and have examined the endogenous effects of peptides by determining baroreflex function in the presence of selective receptor antagonists. Thus, under these conditions, our data point to a tonic enhancement by AVP via V2 receptors of baroreceptor reflex gain at least in SHR, and so directly contrasts with reports that AVP resets the baroreflex to a lower pressure by a V1-sensitive mechanism (14, 20). Moreover, our baroreflex methodology was virtually identical to that used in conflicting studies (20). One possible reason for this discrepancy may be related to a species difference since the latter mechanism is invariably reported to occur in rabbits (14). To our knowledge there have been no other studies that have examined baroreflex function with the new generation of nonpeptide vasopressin-receptor antagonists. Thus it is likely that the modulatory effect observed with the V2-receptor antagonist involved an action at central sites accessible following systemic administration, particularly since it has been shown that V1-receptor activation at neuronal sites within the blood-brain barrier actually inhibits baroreflex function, at least in rats (29). Alternatively, it is possible that the nonpeptide V2-receptor antagonist may gain greater access to central sites compared with peptide AVP analogs. In any case, a central site of action of OPC-31260 is consistent with the concept that most agents that act within the central nervous system are more likely to affect baroreflex gain as opposed to HR range (15).

In conclusion, in the present study it was demonstrated that the V1-receptor antagonist OPC-21268 had no effect on any of the baroreflex parameters measured in either SHR or WKY rats, whereas the V2-receptor antagonist OPC-31260 significantly attenuated the gain of the baroreflex curve in SHR. These findings implicate a role for a V2 receptor in the modulation of baroreflex function by AVP in SHR.

Perspectives

AVP is well known to enhance baroreflex function and thereby offsets its own vasoconstrictor effect. Various mechanisms are proposed to mediate this effect; however, previous studies have been hampered by the use of peptide antagonists that exhibit both agonist and antagonist activity, which often cause opposing effects. This study has used new nonpeptide V1- and V2-receptor antagonists (with no agonist activity) and has shown that the V2-receptor antagonist attenuated the gain of the baroreflex in SHR but not in their normotensive counterpart. These data suggest that AVP is helping to maintain the otherwise impaired gain in this hypertensive strain, although there are likely to be significant species differences since the V1 receptor appears to be involved in the rabbit. Nevertheless, at appropriate doses, these compounds were clearly able to dissect out V1-mediated pressor effects and V2-mediated baroreflex effects, emphasizing their value as experimental tools.


    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Dr. G. A. Head (Baker Medical Research Institute, Prahran, Australia) for providing the sigmoidal baroreflex curve fitting program. We also thank Otsuka Pharmaceutical for the gifts of OPC-21268 and OPC-31260.


    FOOTNOTES

This work was supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. §1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Address for reprint requests: R. Widdop, Dept. of Pharmacology, Monash Univ., Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.

Received 10 February 1998; accepted in final form 10 November 1998.


    REFERENCES
Top
Abstract
Introduction
METHODS
Results
Discussion
References

1.   Bartholomeusz, B., and R. E. Widdop. Effect of acute and chronic treatment with the angiotensin II subtype 1 receptor antagonist EXP 3174 on baroreflex function in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats. J. Hypertens. 13: 219-225, 1995[Medline].

2.   Brizzee, B. L., and B. R. Walker. Vasopressinergic augmentation of cardiac baroreceptor reflex in conscious rats. Am. J. Physiol. 258 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 27): R860-R868, 1990[Abstract/Free Full Text].

3.   Bunting, M. W., and R. E. Widdop. Lack of a centrally mediated antihypertensive effect following acute or chonic central treatment with the AT1-receptor antagonists in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Br. J. Pharmacol. 116: 3181-3190, 1995[Medline].

4.   Burrell, L. M., P. A. Phillips, J. Risvanis, K. L. Aldred, A.-M. Hutchins, and C. I. Johnston. Attenuation of genetic hypertension after short-term vasopressin V1A receptor antagonism. Hypertension 26: 828-834, 1995[Abstract/Free Full Text].

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Am J Physiol Regul Integr Compar Physiol 276(3):R872-R879
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