Differential role of neurohypophysial hormones in hypotension and nitric production during endotoxemia (original) (raw)

2016, Journal of neuroendocrinology

Besides their well-established endocrine roles, vasopressin and oxytocin are also important regulators of immune functions, participating in a complex neuroendocrine-immune network. Herein, we asked whether and how vasopressin and oxytocin could modulate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in a well-established model of experimental endotoxemia. Male Wistar rats were previously treated intravenously with vasopressin V1 or oxytocin receptor antagonists and then received an intravenous LPS injection to induce endotoxemia, or saline as control. The animals were divided into two groups: in the first, blood was collected at 2, 4 and 6 h after LPS injection; in the second, mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded during 6 h. Plasma vasopressin and oxytocin values were higher in LPS- than in saline-injected animal at 2 and 4 h, but returned to basal levels at 6 h. NO levels exhibited an opposite pattern, showing a progressive increase ...

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