High blood pressure, a widespread cardiovascular condition, is a major risk factor for stroke and heart attack. New research suggests that, in certain forms of the disease, elevated blood pressure may be linked to overactivity in specific brain circuits.
Researchers at the University of Missouri (Mizzou) School of Medicine investigated how hypertension develops using an experimental model of primary hypertension in rodents.
The study found increased activity in the sympathetic nervous system, a component of the autonomic nervous system that coordinates the “fight or flight” response and regulates vital bodily functions. Researchers also identified intense activity at the level of neuroendocrine cells, which facilitate communication between the nervous system and the endocrine system, responsible for hormone secretion.
In patients with hypertension, more neurons in the hypothalamus – the brain region controlling neuroendocrine function and the sympathetic nervous system – are activated. The reason these cells influence blood pressure levels remains unclear.
To evaluate whether this neuronal activity could be controlled, the team reduced the activity of neuroendocrine cells in hypertensive rats. This intervention led to a decrease in arterial blood pressure. The researchers also identified a receptor, a protein involved in transmitting signals between neuroendocrine cells and neurons that control the sympathetic nervous system.
According to the authors, developing a chemical agent to block this receptor could represent a new treatment option for primary hypertension – hypertension without a clearly identifiable cause. This research offers a potential new avenue for addressing a significant public health concern.
The Mizzou team plans to further identify such a substance and test it in other experimental models of hypertension. Researchers emphasize that if the results are confirmed, this approach could be relevant for the numerous patients affected by hypertension.
The research findings were published in the journal Cardiovascular Research.
