Crosstalk amongst oxytocin and vasopressin synthesizing neurons of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus increases blood pressure in mice
Authors: Elsaafien Khalid , Kirchner Matthew , Baumer-Harrison Caitlin , Tan Yalun , Scott Karen , Stern Javier , de Kloet Annette 
Published: May 2024

The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) orchestrates neuroendocrine release and autonomic outflow to maintain body fluid homeostasis and cardiovascular function. Emerging evidence supports the notion that neuropeptides synthesized by PVH neurons create paracrine signals that alter physiology and behavior by affecting the activity of neighboring neurons. Here, we test the hypothesis that PVH neurons synthesizing oxytocin (hereafter referred to a PVHOT) create a paracrine signal that regulates blood pressure. Mice with the expression of Cre-recombinase directed to the OT gene were bred that mice that express a CAG-driven LoxP-flanked stop-codon preceding a channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) and eYFP fusion gene at the Rosa26 locus. This produced mice expressing only Cre-recombinase (controls) or mice with ChR2-eYFP expression directed to cells that express oxytocin (OT-ChR2). Confocal image analysis found that ~90% of eYFP expressing neurons were also immunolabeled for OT and electrophysiological recordings obtained from these neurons revealed that pulses of blue light elicited the firing of action potentials. These results confirm directed and functional expression of ChR2 within PVHOT. In vivo optogenetic excitation of PVHOT increased blood pressure and decreased heart rate in OT-ChR2 mice relative to controls. Ganglionic blockade with hexamethonium had no effect on the increased blood pressure elicited by optogenetic excitation of PVHOT but it completely abolished the bradycardia that was previously observed. These results suggest that excitation of PVHOT recruits a neuroendocrine signal that promotes vasoconstriction, which elicits the baroreflex to induce bradycardia by engaging the autonomic nervous system. Consistent with this interpretation, optogenetic excitation of PVHOT increased circulating levels of OT; however, the elevated blood pressure persisted after systemic administration of an OT receptor antagonist. Intriguingly, in vitro optogenetic excitation of PVHOT evoked Ca2+ flux in CHO cells expressing OT or vasopressin receptors (V1aR), suggesting that robust firing of PVHOT is followed by local release of OT. Optogenetic excitation of PVHOT augmented firing of neurons of the PVH that synthesize vasopressin and tended to increase circulating levels of this neuropeptide. Remarkably, systemic administration of a V1aR antagonist completely abolished the increase in blood pressure and bradycardia that were previously observed with in vivo optogenetic excitation of PVHOT. Collectively, these results reveal that robust firing of PVHOT creates an oxytocinergic paracrine signal that increases blood pressure by activating V1aR(s) and increasing circulating vasopressin. AHA 23POST1020034 to KE. NHLBI F31HL1162540 to CBH. NHLBI R01HL136595, R35HL150750, R01HL145028 and NCCIH R65AT012142 to ADK & EGK. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.