Nitric oxide inhibits excitatory vagal afferent input to nucleus tractus solitarius neurons in anaesthetized rats

Objective Endogenous nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the regulation of neuronal activity which mediates cardiovascular reflexes. However, there is controversy concerning the role of NO in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). The present study aims to elucidate the possible physiological role of endogenous NO in modulating the excitatory vagal afferent input to NTS neurons. Methods All the experiments in the rat were conducted under anaesthetic conditions. Ionophoresis method was used for the application of NO donor or nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, and single unit recording method was employed to detect the effects of these applications on vagal afferent-or cardio-pulmonary C-fibre reflex-evoked neuronal excitation in NTS. Results Ionophoresis applications of L-arginine (L-Arg), a substrate of NOS, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, both attenuated the vagal afferent-evoked discharge by (51.5 +/- 7.6)% (n = 17) and (68.3 +/- 7.1)% (n = 9), respectively. In contrast, application of D-Arg at the same current exerted no overall effect on this input. Also, both L-Arg and SNP inhibited spontaneous firing of most of the recorded neurons. In contrast, ionophoresis application of N-G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) enhanced vagal afferent-evoked excitation by (66.3 +/- 11.4)% (n = 7). In addition, ionophoresis application of L-Arg and SNP significantly attenuated cardio-pulmonary C-fibre reflex-induced excitation in the tested NTS neurons. Conclusion Activation of local NO pathway in the NTS could suppress vagal afferent-evoked excitation, suggesting that NO is an important neuromodulator of visceral sensory input in the NTS.