Blockade of non-NMDA receptors attenuates reflex pressor response to static contraction

Considerable evidence suggests that both substance P and glutamate play a role in the spinal transmission of the exercise pressor reflex. We tested two hypotheses. First, after a lumbosacral intrathecal injection of a glutamatergic receptor antagonist, the reflex cardiovascular and ventilatory responses to static contraction are attenuated. Second, after a lumbosacral intrathecal injection of a substance P receptor antagonist and a glutamatergic receptor antagonist, the reflex cardiovascular and ventilatory responses to static contraction are abolished. We found that 1) the reflex cardiovascular responses to static contraction were unaffected (P > 0.05) after the intrathecal injection of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, dl-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoate (+/- AP-5) or 3-[(+-)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl]propyl-1-phosphonic acid (+/- CPP); 2) the reflex pressor response to static muscular contraction was attenuated by > 50% after the intrathecal injection of the non-NMDA receptor antagonist, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX); and 3) the reflex pressor response to static contraction was almost abolished after the intrathecal injection of the substance P receptor antagonist, CP-96,345, and CNQX. Our results suggest that substance P and glutamate are two neurotransmitters involved in the spinal transmission of the exercise pressor reflex and that substance P and glutamate exert their effects via neurokinin-1 (NK-1) and non-NMDA receptors, respectively.