In this study, we tested the hypothesis that nitric oxide (NO) production in the dorsal horn is involved in producing the pressor reflex elicited by static contraction of skeletal muscle. Cats were anesthetized with -chloralose (80 mg/kg) and urethane (100 mg/kg), and a laminectomy was performed. With the exception of the L₇ dorsal root, the dorsal and ventral roots from L₅ to S₂ were sectioned on one side and static contraction of the ipsilateral triceps surae muscle was evoked by electrically stimulating the peripheral ends of the L₇ and S₁ ventral roots. Dialysis of the NO synthase inhibitor N^G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 50 mmol/l syringe concentration, based upon dose-response data) into the dorsal horn at L₆ and S₁ failed to attenuate the peak change in mean arterial pressure (MAP) evoked by static contraction (MAP in mmHg: 57 ± 5 before and 50 ± 6 after 2 h of L-NAME). However, this dialysis of L-NAME reduced the magnitude of the initial pressor response as the MAP at 10 s of the contraction fell from 27 ± 4 to 17 ± 4 mmHg. On the other hand, 2 h of L-arginine dialysis (50 mmol/l) shifted the curve representing the time course of the pressor response upward and increased the peak pressor response to static contraction from 51 ± 9 to 68 ± 9 mmHg. A 2-h dialysis of D-NAME (50 mmol/l), the inactive enantiomer of L-NAME, had no effect on the time course or the peak pressor response (MAP in mmHg: 78 ± 12 before and 72 ± 15 after). These data suggest that NO production in the dorsal horn has a modulatory influence on the pressor reflex evoked by static contraction of skeletal muscle and that increasing the level of NO in the dorsal horn enhances the excitability of dorsal horn cells to muscle afferent input.

cats; exercise pressor reflex; excitatory amino acids; spinal cord; muscle afferent neurons; blood pressure

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