Role of hindbrain melanocortin-4 receptor activity in controlling cardiovascular and metabolic functions in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract

Although we previously demonstrated that activation of central nervous system (CNS) melanocortin3/4 receptors (MC3/4R) play a key role in blood pressure (BP) regulation, especially in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), the importance of hindbrain MC4R is still unclear. In the present study, we examined the cardiovascular and metabolic effects of chronic inhibition of MC3/4R in the hindbrain of SHRs and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Male WKY rats (n = 6) and SHRs (n = 7) were implanted with telemetry probes to measure BP and heart rate (HR) 24 h/day, and an intracerebroventricular cannula was placed into the fourth ventricle. After 10 days of recovery and 5 days of control measurements, the MC3/4R antagonist (SHU-9119) was infused into the fourth ventricle (1 nmol/h) to antagonize hindbrain MC4R for 10 days, followed by a 5-day recovery period. Chronic hindbrain MC3/4R antagonism significantly increased food intake and body weight in WKY rats (17 ± 1 to 35 ± 2 g/day and 280 ± 8 to 353 ± 8 g) and SHRs (19 ± 2 to 35 ± 2 g/day and 323 ± 7 to 371 ± 11 g), and markedly increased fasting insulin and leptin levels while causing no changes in blood glucose levels (99 ± 4 to 87 ± 4 and 89 ± 5 to 89 ± 4 mg/dl, respectively, for WKY rats and SHRs). Chronic SHU-9119 infusion reduced mean arterial pressure and HR similarly in WKY rats (-8 ± 1 mmHg and -47 ± 3 b.p.m.) and SHRs (-11 ± 3 mmHg and -44 ± 3 b.p.m.). These results suggest that although hindbrain MC4R activity contributes to appetite and HR regulation, it does not play a major role in mediating the elevated BP in SHRs.