Hypothalamic opioid µ-receptors regulate discrete hemodynamic functions in the conscious rat

The effect of the selective \(\mu\)-opioid agonist o-Ala\(^2\)-Me-Phe\(^4\)-Gly-ol'-enkephalin (DAGO), injected into the medial preoptic nucleus of hypothalamus, on cardiac output and regional blood flow was studied in the conscious rat and the effect of DAGO on renal sympathetic nerve activity and renal blood flow was studied in anesthetized rats. In conscious rats, injections of DAGO (1 or 10 nmol) into the preoptic nucleus increased the blood pressure in a dose-related manner. The maximum rises of mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure after the larger dose were +23 ± 5 mmHg (mean ±SEM, P < 0.01) and + 17 ± 3 mmHg(P < 0.01), respectively. A small dose (0.1 nmol) increased heart rate ( +47 ± 13 bpm, P < 0.05); thc 1 nmol dosc produced bradycardia (- 39 ± 11 bpm, P < 0.05), while the 10 nmol dose initially decreased heart rate ( -68 ± 15 bpm (P < 0.01) and then gradually increased heart rate to a maximum of + 74 ± 13 bpm, (P < 0.0 1). A long-lasting increase in cardiac output was also elicited by DAGO, with maximum changes after 1 and 10 nmol of + 14 ± 6% and +22 ± 7% (P < 0.01), respectively. B1ood flow in the hindquarters increascd after DAGO but the mesenteric and renal blood ftow decreased in a dose-related manner. Significant responscs in hindquarter and mesenteric blood fl.ow after DAGO were independent of systemic hemodynamic responses at the dose ofO.l nmol. The vascular resistance in the hindquarters significantly decreased after a small dose of DAGO while the larger doses dose-dependently increased mesenteric and renal vascular resistance. A crucial role of the sympathetic nervous system in the hemodynamic effects of DAGO was demonstrated: (1) by the profound activation of renal sympathetic nerve activity after injections of DAGO (I nmol/100 nl) into the preoptic nucleus, (2) by blockade of the pressor, tachycardic and regional hemodynamic effects of DAGO (I nmol) by the ganglion blocker ch1orisondamine (5 mg/kg i.v.). The results suggest that the pressor effect of DAGO in preoptic nucleus is due primarily to an increase in cardiac output. The differential changes in blood ftow in organs further suggest that the opioid \(\mu\)-receptors in the preoptic nucleus might be involved in the integration of peripheral blood ftow in the hypothalamus during affective behavior