Acetylcholinesterase inhibition prevents alterations in cardiovascular autonomic control and gastric motility in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats

Aims: Autonomic dysfunction in arterial hypertension affects cardiorespiratory control and gastric motility and has been characterized by increased sympathetic and reduced parasympathetic activity. In the present work we investigated the effects of anticholinesterase drugs [donepezil (DON) or pyridostigmine (PYR)] on cardiovascular, autonomic, and gastric parameters in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. Materials and methods: Daily oral gavage of L-NAME (70 mg/kg/day) was performed over 14 days in male Wistar rats (180-220 g), whereas daily oral gavage of DON or PYR (1.6 and 22 mg/kg/day, respectively) started 2 days after the L-NAME treatment initiation and lasted 12 days. The development of hypertension was verified by tail plethysmography technique. After the end of treatments, the animals were subjected to experimental protocols (6-12 animals per group; total number of animals used: 78). Key findings: L-NAME hypertensive animals had no alterations in heart rate (HR) and intrinsic HR, but showed reduction in baroreflex sensitivity, parasympathetic tone, and gastric motility; and the sympathetic tone, chemoreflex sensitivity, and the LF (low frequency) band of systolic arterial pressure (SAP) variability were increased. DON or PYR attenuated the increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) induced by L-NAME. Both anticholinesterase drugs were effective in preventing the decrease in baroreflex sensitivity, parasympathetic tone and gastric motility, and also prevented the increases in peripheral chemoreflex response and cardiac sympathetic tone. Significance: Acetylcholinesterase inhibition with DON or PYR is a promising pharmacological approach to increase parasympathetic function, thus preventing the hypertension-induced alterations in the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and autonomic systems.