Adenosine A1 receptors of the medullary solitary tract arbitrate the nicotine counteraction of neuroinflammation and cardiovascular dysfunction in septic rats

The cholinergic pathway plays a crucial role in improving inflammatory end-organ damage. Given the interplay between cholinergic and adenosinergic neurotransmission, we tested the hypothesis that central adenosine A1 receptors (A1ARs) modulate the nicotine counteraction of cardiovascular and inflammatory insults induced by sepsis in rats. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) 24-h before cardiovascular measurements. Nicotine (25–100 µg/kg i.v.) dose-dependently reversed septic manifestations of hypotension and impaired heart rate variability (HRV) and cardiac sympathovagal balance. Like nicotine, intracisternal (i.c.) administration of N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA, A1AR agonist) to CLP rats increased indices of HRV and sympathovagal balance. Moreover, greater surges in these parameters were noted upon simultaneous nicotine/CPA administration. The favorable influences of nicotine on blood pressure and HRV in sepsis were diminished after central blockade of A1ARs by i.c. 8-Cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX). Molecular studies revealed that (i) septic rises in myocardial and brainstem nucleus of solitary tract (NTS) NFκB expression were abrogated by nicotine and largely reinstated after blockade of A1ARs, and (ii) A1AR expression in the same areas was reduced by DPCPX. It is concluded that myocardial and medullary A1ARs facilitate the cholinergic counteraction of cardiac and neuroinflammation induced by sepsis and interrelated cardiomyopathic and neuropathic hitches.