The effect of reversible inactivation of the central amygdaloid nucleus on cardiovascular responses in rats with renal hypertension

The brain rennin-angiotensin system (RAS) has an important role in the regulation of cardiovascular function. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of reversible inactivation of the central amygdaloid nucleus (Ace) in normotensive rats and rats with renal hypertension (2K-1C). Two groups of normotensive rats were selected for this study. In one group, hypertension was induced by Goldblatt method and the other group subjected to a sham procedure. After 6 weeks, tests were performed on anesthetized rats with urethane (1 g/Kg). To perform bilaterally reversible inactivation, lidocaine (2%) was injected into Ace. Then, direct measurements of femoral blood pressure and heart rate were recorded just before and 5, 10, 20, 40, and, 60 min after injection of lidocaine. The degree of change was determined in relation to baseline. Our results revealed that sham group with Ace inactivation had a significant increase of blood pressure at 5 min after injection (P