CENTRAL MUSCARINIC M(2) CHOLINOCEPTORS INVOLVED IN CHOLINERGIC HYPERTENSION

Cholinomimetic agents increase blood pressure and heart rate via centr al muscarinic cholinoceptors in various species. It was reported that i.c.v. injection of the muscarinic M(1) and M(3) cholinoceptor selecti ve antagonist, 4-DAMP (4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine methiodid e), inhibited the presser response to physostigmine, while the M, sele ctive antagonist, pirenzepine, was ineffective. In the present study, the involvement of muscarinic M, cholinoceptors in central cholinergic hypertension and tachycardia was investigated. Physostigmine (10-80 m u g/kg i.v.), a cholinesterase inhibitor, and oxotremorine (20-40 mu g /kg i.v.), a direct muscarinic cholinoceptor agonist, caused a dose-de pendent increase in blood pressure. Additionally, physostigmine induce d dose-dependent tachycardiac responses. I.c.v. administration of the muscarinic M(2) cholinoceptor antagonists, AF-DX 116 and methoctramine , inhibited both physostigmine (60 mu g/kg) and oxotremorine (20 mu g/ kg)-induced presser responses at their lower doses used in this study (100 nmol/rat and 10 nmol/rat, respectively). These findings indicate the partial involvement of postsynaptic muscarinic M, cholinoceptors. The higher doses of the antagonists (AF-DX 116 300 nmol/rat and methoc tramine 30 nmol/rat) potentiated the blood pressure increase due to ph ysostigmine but did not affect that due to oxotremorine. The physostig mine-induced tachycardiac responses were influenced similarly by these antagonists. These results suggest the presence and tonic influence o f presynaptic inhibitory muscarinic M, cholinoceptors.