Abstract
Changes in relative metabolic requirements and neuronal densities in the nucleus commissuralis (NC) and nucleus medialis (NM) of the nucleus tractus solitarius were studied in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) during development. The changes in relative metabolic requirements in the two subnuclei of SHR between 2 and 12 weeks of age were similar to those previously reported for normotensive WKY at the same ages. However, the relative metabolic activity in the NC of 2- and 4-week SHR was significantly higher than in normotensive rats. The differences in metabolic requirements of the NC could not be explained by differences in the neuronal densities of this subnucleus in young SHR and may reflect abnormalities in developmental or functional activities in the pre-hypertensive rat. Neuronal densities in the NC of 8- and 12-week SHR and in the NM of 4-, 8- and 12-week SHR were significantly higher than in WKY controls. Differences in the neuronal densities in the NC and NM of SHR may be explained by a smaller brain size characteristic of this strain, but differences in the NC of SHR suggest that the alterations may underlie or result from the cardiovascular abnormalities associated with the spontaneous hypertension of this strain.
Published Version
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