Natriuretic Peptides—New Targets for Neurocontrol of Blood Pressure via Baroreflex Afferent Pathway

Natriuretic peptides (NPs) induce vasodilation, natriuresis, and diuresis, counteract the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and autonomic nervous system, and are key regulators of cardiovascular volume and pressure homeostasis. Baroreflex afferent pathway is an important reflex loop in the neuroregulation of blood pressure (BP), including nodose ganglion (NG) and nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). Dysfunction of baroreflex would lead to various hypertensions. Here, we carried out functional experiments to explore the effects of NPs on baroreflex afferent function. Under physiological and hypertensive condition (high-fructose drinking-induced hypertension, HFD), BP was reduced by NPs through NG microinjection and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) was enhanced via acute intravenous NPs injection. These anti-hypertensive effects were more obvious in female rats with the higher expression of NPs and its receptor A/B (NPRA/NPRB) and lower expression of its receptor C (NPRC). However, these effects were not as obvious as those in HFD rats compared with the same gender control group, which is likely to be explained by the abnormal expression of NPs and NPRs in the hypertensive condition. Our data provide additional evidence showing that NPs play a crucial role in neurocontrol of BP regulation via baroreflex afferent function and may be potential targets for clinical management of metabolic-related hypertension.