The role of GalphaO-mediated signalling in the central nervous mechanisms controlling sympathetic outflow to the heart

Abstract

Purpose: Inhibitory G proteins are known to mediate vagal influences on the heart. However, their role in the central nervous mechanisms of cardiovascular control remain unclear. We hypothesised that in mice, conditional deletion of GalphaO (GαO) in the rostral ventrolateral medulla oblongata (RVLM), which contains sympathoexcitatory (pre-sympathetic) neurones, will have a significant impact on autonomic cardiac reflexes. Methods: Using the Cre/LoxP approach, GαO was deleted in the RVLM of GαO flx/flx mice aged between 8 to 12 weeks (CKO) by stereotaxic delivery of an adenoviral (AdV) vector to trigger expression of Cre and GFP driven by a CMV promoter. Littermates injected with a GFP-only-expressing AdV served as controls. After 1 week, these mice (under urethane anaesthesia, 1.3 g/kg IP) were given alternating doses of phenylephrine (0.5-2mg/kg, IV) and sodium nitroprusside (0.1-1mg/kg, IV) and the obtained heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) data were used to individually fit sigmoidal baroreflex curves (Fig 1). The animals were then sacrificed and transgene expression was confirmed histologically. Results: Compared to controls, CKO mice (n=4 in each group) were tachycardic (median minimum HR 608 bpm, IQR 604-639 vs 580 bpm, IQR 576-598) and displayed an increased baroreflex gain (mean BR gain 0.65 bpm/mmHg, 95% CI 0.46-0.83 vs 0.35 bpm/mmHg, 95% CI 0.33-0.37, p=0.03). Figure 1: Baroreflex curves Figure 1: Baroreflex curves Conclusion: Mice with conditional deletion of GαO within the sympathoexcitatory circuits of the brainstem display enhanced baroreflex sensitivity consistent with an increased sympathetic tone. This suggests an important role for GαO-mediated signalling in the central nervous inhibitory mechanisms controlling sympathetic outflow.