Endothelial NO synthase activity in nucleus tractus solitarii contributes to hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract

NO is implicated as a major modulator of central nervous circuits regulating cardiovascular activity. Based on previous data, we hypothesized that overactivity of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) within the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) could contribute to the hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Using real-time PCR, we found that endogenous eNOS mRNA was greater in the NTS of mature, but not juvenile prehypertensive SHRs compared with aged-matched Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. To test the functional significance of this, we chronically blocked eNOS activity in the NTS in the adult SHR by in vivo adenoviral-mediated gene transfer of a dominant-negative form of eNOS; data were..