Chronic infusion of berberine into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus attenuates hypertension and sympathoexcitation via the ROS/Erk1/2/iNOS pathway.

BACKGROUND: Berberine (BBR), a Chinese traditional herbal medicine, has many pharmacologic benefits such as anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation. It is widely used in clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. However, the mechanism of how BBR attenuates hypertension through affecting central neural system is not clear. PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine whether chronic infusion of BBR into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) attenuates hypertension and sympathoexcitation via the ROS/Erk1/2/iNOS pathway. METHODS: Two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) renovascular hypertensive rats were randomly assigned and treated with bilateral PVN infusion of BBR (2µg/h) or vehicle (artificial cerebrospinal fluid) via osmotic minipumps for 28 days. RESULTS: 2K1C rats showed higher mean arterial pressure (MAP) and PVN Fra-like activity, plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE), PVN levels of NOX2, NOX4, Erk1/2 and iNOS, and lower PVN levels of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD). Chronic infusion of BBR reduced MAP, PVN Fra-like activity and plasma levels of NE, reduced NOX2, NOX4, Erk1/2, iNOS and induced Cu/Zn-SOD in the PVN. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that BBR attenuates hypertension and sympathoexcitation via the ROS/Erk1/2/iNOS pathway in 2K1C renovascular hypertensive rats.

Oral CoQ10 attenuates high salt-induced hypertension by restoring neurotransmitters and cytokines in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus.

High salt intake leads to an increase in some proinflammatory cytokines and neurotransmitters involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. The purpose of this work was to know if oral administration of anti-oxidant and free-radical scavenger CoQ10 may attenuate high salt-induced hypertension via regulating neurotransmitters and cytokines in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed with a normal salt diet (NS, 0.3% NaCl) or a high salt diet (HS, 8% NaCl) for 15 weeks to induce hypertension. These rats received CoQ10 (10 mg/kg/day) dissolved in olive oil was given by gavage (10 mg/kg/day) for 15 weeks. HS resulted in higher mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA). These HS rats had higher PVN levels of norepinephrine (NE), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), interleukin (IL)-1ß, NOX2 and NOX4, lower PVN levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), IL-10, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) and the 67-kDa isoform of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67), as compared with NS group. CoQ10 supplementation reduced NE, TH, IL-1ß, NOX2 and NOX4 in the PVN, and induced IL-10, Cu/Zn-SOD and GAD67 in the PVN. These findings suggest that CoQ10 supplementation restores neurotransmitters and cytokines in the PVN, thereby attenuating high salt-induced hypertension.

Central blockade of salusin ß attenuates hypertension and hypothalamic inflammation in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Salusin ß is a multifunctional bioactive peptide and is considered as a promising candidate biomarker for predicting atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the roles and mechanisms of salusin ß in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in attenuating hypertension and hypothalamic inflammation and whether central salusin ß blockade has protective effects in essential hypertension. Normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were used in this study. The rats were chronic PVN infusion either specific salusin ß blocker, antisalusin ß IgG (SIgG), or control IgG (CIgG) for 2 weeks. Hypertensive rats had significantly increased salusin ß expression compared with normotensive rats. Central blockade of salusin ß attenuated hypertension, reduced circulating norepinephrine (NE) levels, and improved cardiac hypertrophy and function in hypertensive rats. Salusin ß blockade significantly reduced proinflammatory cytokines (PICs), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and altered renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components in the PVN of hypertensive rats. These findings suggest that the beneficial effects of salusin ß blockade in essential hypertension are possibly due to down-regulate of inflammatory molecules and ROS in the PVN.

[Study on eco-climatic applicability of Angelica sinensis].

OBJECTIVE: In the interest of establish planting base of Angelica sinensis on a large scale, enhance economic benefit, and improve decision-making reasons, the eco-climatic applicability of A. sinensis was studied. METHOD: Using integral regression, eco-climatic applicability and the effect of meteorological conditions for the yield of A. sinensis' were analysed by field experimental data. RESULT: Selected > or =0 degrees C accumulated temperature and annual precipitation as leading index, altitude as assistant index, yield and rate of finished products as reference index, the integrated eco-climatic division index and the planting division applicability of A. sinensis was confirmed. CONCLUSION: Accordancing to theory of climate similitude and leading index summarisation, combining with assistant index and reference index, the integrated division index of eco-climate was confirmed. The planting division of co-climate applicability was divided into 5 grades as best suitable, suitable hypo-suitable, just suitable and no suitable regions. At the same time,the way to enhanced utilizing efficiency of eco-climate resources was brought forward.