Title:Brain Excitatory/Inhibitory Circuits Cross-Talking with Chromogranin A During Hypertensive and Hibernating States
Volume: 19
Issue: 24
Author(s): G. Giusi, R. Alo, E. Avolio, M. Zizza, R. M. Facciolo, G. Talani, G. Biggio, E. Sanna and M. Canonaco
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Spontaneously hypertensive rats, brain stem, GABA, glutamate, adenosine, hibernation, neuroprotection, synaptic plasticity,
granins, neuroinflammation, hypothalamus, cardiovascular functions, hamster.
Abstract: To date, many scientific attempts have been directed towards the development of experimental models for the identification of
neuronal mechanisms evoking cardiovascular and hemodynamic dysfunctions. The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), a genetic
model of essential hypertension, has become a valuable rodent for the characterization of molecular markers in hypertensive-related
diseases. Recently, growing interests have also been directed to a new experimental paradigm i.e. hibernation, a physiological state
consenting the hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) to activate protective mechanisms against ischemic-like complications during the arousal
phase. With this intention, the present review will focus attention on specific neurosignaling systems involved with the preservation of
hemodynamic conditions in those brain areas that play a pivotal role on such a feature. It is widely known that healthy neurons conserve
their structural and responsiveness properties in presence of a constant blood supply, which is assured by their coupling to microvessels
and perivascular astrocytes as well as by secretory proteins such as chromogranin A (CgA). So, it will be interesting to establish if this
protein alone or with the participation of excitatory/inhibitory neurosignals is capable of influencing some brain areas controlling
cardiovascular conditions in both SHRs and hibernating hamsters. In this context, the present work will deliver the most important
findings regarding neuronal CgA and its cross-talking ability with major inhibitory (GABA/adenosine) and/or excitatory (glutamate)
neuroreceptor systems in relation to hypertensive/hypotensive states of both animal models. Indications deriving from such approaches
may provide clinically useful insights regarding their role as protective factors of hemodynamic and neurological disorders.