Aim: To study the synaptic mechanisms involved in the 5-hydroxytryptamine1A/7 (5-HT 1A/7 ) receptor-mediated reflex control of cardiac vagal preganglionic neurons (CVPN). Methods: CVPN were retrogradely labeled and identified in brain stem slices of newborn rats, and their synaptic activity was examined using whole-cell patch-clamp. Results: 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), an agonist of 5-HT 1A/7 receptors, had no effect on the glutamatergic inputs of CVPN. In contrast, it significantly decreased the frequency and the amplitude of both the GABAergic and the glycinergic spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSC). 8-OH-DPAT also caused significant amplitude decrease of the GABAergic currents evoked by stimulation of the nucleus tractus solitarius. Both the frequency inhibition and the amplitude inhibition of the GABAergic and the glycinergic sIPSC by 8-OH-DPAT had dose-dependent tendencies and could be reversed by WAY-100635, an antagonist of 5-HT 1A/7 receptors. In the pre-existence of tetrodotoxin, 8-OH-DPAT had no effect on the GABAergic or the glycinergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents, and had no effect on the GABAergic or the glycinergic currents evoked by exogenous GABA or glycine. Conclusion:The 5-HT 1A/7 receptor agonist excites CVPN indirectly via the inhibition of both the GABAergic and glycinergic inputs. These findings have at least in part revealed the synaptic mechanisms involved in the 5-HT 1A/7 receptor-mediated reflex control of cardiac vagal nerves in intact animals. Key words5 -h y d r o x y t r y p t a m i n e ; c a r d i a c v a g a l preganglionic neurons; 8-hydroxy-2-(di-Np r o p y l a m i n o ) t e t r a l i n ; s p o n t a n e o u s inhibitory postsynaptic currents

Aim: To test the effect of orexin‐A (hypocretin‐1), a neuropeptide synthesized in the lateral hypothalamus and the perifornical area, on the glycinergic inputs and the GABAergic inputs of cardiac vagal neurons (CVN). Methods: The effects of orexin‐A at three concentrations (20 nmol/L, 100 nmol/L, 500 nmol/L) on the glycinergic inputs and the GABAergic inputs were investigated by using retrograde fluorescent labeling of cardiac neurons (CVN) in the nucleus ambiguus (NA) and the voltage patch‐clamp technique. Results: Orexin‐A dose‐dependently increased the frequency of both the glycinergic and the GABAergic spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSC). However, at a lower concentration (20 nmol/L) of orexin‐A, although the frequency of the glycinergic sIPSC was significantly increased, the frequency of the GABAergic sIPSC was not significantly changed. Conclusion: The glycinergic inputs and the GABAergic inputs have different sensitivities to orexin‐A, which suggests that the two kinds of inhibitory inputs might play different roles in the synaptic control of cardiac vagal functions.

Infection may result in early abnormalities in respiratory movement, and the mechanism may involve central and peripheral factors. Peripheral mechanisms include lung injury and alterations in electrolytes and body temperature, but the central mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, brainstem slices harvested from rats were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide at different doses. Central respiratory activities as demonstrated by electrophysiological activity of the hypoglossal rootlets were examined and the mechanisms were investigated by inhibiting nitric oxide synthase and ATP-sensitive potassium channels. As a result, 0.5 µg/ml lipopolysaccharide mainly caused inhibitory responses in both the frequency and the output intensity, while 5 µg/ml lipopolysaccharide caused an early frequency increase followed by delayed decreases in both the frequency and the output intensity. At both concentrations the inhibitory responses were fully reversed by inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (20 µM), and by inhibition of ATP- sensitive potassium channels with glybenclamide (100 µM). These results show that direct lipopolysaccharide challenge altered central respiratory activity in dose- and time- related manners. Nitric oxide synthase and ATP-sensitive potassium channels may be involved in the respiratory changes.