Hemodynamic responses to paraventricular nucleus disinhibition with bicuculline in conscious rats

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=21) instrumented with guide cannulas directed bilaterally at the PVN, an electromagnetic flow probe on the ascending aorta, and femoral venous and arterial catheters.

Bilateral infusion of bicuculline methiodide (BMI, 2 mM, 100 nl/20 min) into the PVN region before and after treatment with metoprolol bitartrate (2 mg/kg iv) or prazosin hydrochloride (2 mg/kg iv).

Baseline/control responses before metoprolol or prazosin treatment.

Hemodynamic responses including mean arterial pressure, heart rate, cardiac index, and total peripheral resistance index.surrogate