Abstract
Deep brain stimulation of the ventral PAG has been used for the clinical treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. However, it also causes sustained reductions in arterial pressure (AP) in hypertensive patients. To better understand the latter, we have developed an animal model in the anaesthetised SH rat and applied long term electrical stimulation of the vPAG (30–60 min, 30Hz, 2V, 200–400μs pulse width) while measuring AP and heart rate (HR) responses. vPAG stimulation reduced AP by 14±1mmHg (basal: 139±10mmHg) in SH rats, which persisted throughout the stimulation period, whereas smaller depressor responses were evoked in Wistar rats (5±2mmHg; basal 101±9mmHg) that were poorly maintained. In the SH rat, HR decreased by 33±12bpm and was stimulus locked; a poorly maintained bradycardia of 15±3bpm was seen in Wistar rats. Our observations indicate that the vPAG of the SH rat is a more effective depressor site compared to Wistar rats, lending itself as a potential therapeutic target. Future studies will determine the mechanisms for the enhanced hypotensive effect of the vPAG in the SH versus Wistar rat.
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