Figure 3.
The NO system participates in the modulation of blood pressure mediated by nAChRs. (A) Representative tracings demonstrate the depressor effects of nicotine (1.5 pmol) injected into the unilateral NTS before and 10 min after pretreatment with L-NAME (33 nmol) in the anaesthetized WKY rats. (B) Reveals the effects of pretreatment with L-NAME on the changes in MBP and HR induced by microinjection of nicotine into unilateral NTS. (C) Reveals the effects of nicotine on NO3− levels in the NTS of WKY rats. Values are shown as mean change ± SEM, n = 6. *P < 0.05 versus control group. BP, blood pressure; EGTA, ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid; HR, heart rate; L-NAME, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester; MBP, mean blood pressure; NTS, nucleus tractus solitarii.