Cardiovascular response to group I metabotropic glutamate receptor activation in NTS

C. Michael Foley, Helen W. Vogl, Patrick J. Mueller, Meredith Hay, and EileenM. Hasser The NTS plays a role in arterial baroreflex. We know that glutamate is the primary neurotransmitter. This article primary focus was group 1 mGLU receptors role in the control of the cardiovascular system. They recorded LSNA along with blood pressure. They microinjected 3,5 dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) is a selective group 1 mGLUR agonist, and 1-aminocyclopentane-1S3 R dicarboxylic acid (ACPD) is a general mGLUR agonist. Both caused similar decreases in blood pressure and LSNA. Next they tested whether mGLUR receptor blockade would prevent the responses seen previously with DHPG and ACPD. They found in α-methyl-4-carboxyphenylgylcine blocked DHPG and ACPD responses. Next they looked at ionotropic glutamate receptors role in mediating the DHPG and ACPD response. They found that kyn did not attenuate DHPG response but potentiated the ACPD response. These data show that DHPG and ACPD activate group I mGLUR and that even in the presence of ionotropic glutamate receptor blocade they are able to still cause changes in blood pressure and nerve activity. -MD