ABSTRACT
Objective To examine the effects of intracerebroventricular administration of adrenomedullin (AM) on the expression of Fos and spontaneous electric activity of area postrema (AP) neurons in sino-aortic denervated rats. Methods To determine the expression of Fos and the spontaneous electrical activity of AP neurons in male Sprague-Dawley rats by immunohistochemistry. Results Following Intracerebroventricular administration of AM (1 nmol/kg, 3 nmol/kg), Fos-like immunoreactive (Fos-LI) neurons and the discharge rate of AP neurons markedly increased. Pretreatment with calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) receptor antagonist CGRP8-37 (30 nmol/kg) significantly inhibited the effects of AM (3 nmol/kg). Conclusion AM may activate the neurons in AP via CGRP receptors.