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AIMS: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)-natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPR-A) receptor signalling inhibits cardiac sympathetic neurotransmission, although C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is the predominant neuropeptide of the nervous system with expression in the heart and vasculature. We hypothesized that CNP acts similarly to BNP, and that transgenic rats (TGRs) with neuron-specific overexpression of a dominant negative NPR-B receptor would develop heightened sympathetic drive. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure and heart rate (HR) were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated in freely moving TGRs (n = 9) compared with Sprague Dawley (SD) controls (n = 10). TGR had impaired left ventricular systolic function and spectral analysis of HR variability suggested a shift towards sympathoexcitation. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated co-staining of NPR-B with tyrosine hydroxylase in stellate ganglia neurons. In SD rats, CNP (250 nM, n = 8) significantly reduced the tachycardia during right stellate ganglion stimulation (1-7 Hz) in vitro whereas the response to bath-applied norepinephrine (NE, 1 μM, n = 6) remained intact. CNP (250 nM, n = 8) significantly reduced the release of 3H-NE in isolated atria and this was prevented by the NPR-B antagonist P19 (250 nM, n = 6). The neuronal Ca2+ current (n = 6) and intracellular Ca2+ transient (n = 9, using fura-2AM) were also reduced by CNP in isolated stellate neurons. Treatment of the TGR (n = 9) with the sympatholytic clonidine (125 µg/kg per day) significantly reduced mean arterial pressure and HR to levels observed in the SD (n = 9). CONCLUSION: C-type natriuretic peptide reduces cardiac sympathetic neurotransmission via a reduction in neuronal calcium signalling and NE release through the NPR-B receptor. Situations impairing CNP-NPR-B signalling lead to hypertension, tachycardia, and impaired left ventricular systolic function secondary to sympatho-excitation.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/cvr/cvw184

Type

Journal article

Journal

Cardiovasc Res

Publication Date

12/2016

Volume

112

Pages

637 - 644

Keywords

Calcium, Hypertension, Natriuretic peptides, Norepinephrine, Sympathetic, Animals, Arterial Pressure, Calcium Signaling, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Heart, Heart Rate, Hypertension, Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type, Norepinephrine, Phenotype, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Rats, Transgenic, Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor, Stellate Ganglion, Sympathetic Nervous System, Synaptic Transmission, Systole, Tachycardia, Ventricular, Time Factors, Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase, Ventricular Dysfunction, Left, Ventricular Function, Left