Amplified P2X3 pathway activity in muscle afferent dorsal root ganglion neurons and exercise pressor reflex regulation in hindlimb ischaemia–reperfusion

Abstract Hindlimb ischaemia–reperfusion (IR) is among the most prominent pathophysiological conditions observed in peripheral artery disease (PAD). An exaggerated arterial blood pressure (BP) response during exercise is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular events in individuals with PAD. However, the precise mechanisms leading to this exaggerated BP response are poorly elucidated. The P2X 3 signalling pathway, which plays a key role in modifying the exercise pressor reflex (EPR), is the focus of the present study. We determined the regulatory role of P2X 3 on the EPR in a rat model of hindlimb IR. In vivo and in vitro approaches were used to determine the expression and functions of P2X 3 in muscle afferent nerves and EPR in IR rats. We found that in IR rats there was (1) upregulation of P2X 3 protein expression in the L4–6 dorsal root ganglia (DRG); (2) amplified P2X currents in isolated isolectin B4 (IB4)‐positive muscle DRG neurons; and (3) amplification of the P2X‐mediated BP response. We further verified that both A‐317491 and siRNA knockdown of P2X 3 significantly decreased the activity of P2X currents in isolated muscle DRG neurons. Moreover, inhibition of muscle afferents’ P2X 3 receptor using A‐317491 was observed to alleviate the exaggerated BP response induced by static muscle contraction and P2X‐induced BP response by α,β‐methylene ATP injection. P2X 3 signalling pathway activity is amplified in muscle afferent DRG neurons in regulating the EPR following hindlimb IR.