The role of M2 muscarinic receptors in the posterior hypothalamus in the pressor response to intracerebroventricularly-injected neostigmine.

Injection of neostigmine into the lateral cerebral ventricle of urethane-anesthetized rats increases arterial blood pressure. Prior injection of atropine or the muscarinic M2 antagonist 4-DAMP into the posterior hypothalamic nuclei inhibited the pressor response to neostigmine by up to approximately 56%. The same maximum degree of inhibition was elicited by bilateral electrical lesions of the posterior hypothalamic nuclei. The response was not modified by intrahypothalamic injection of pirenzepine or intraventricular injection of hexamethonium, but was prevented by intraventricular injection of 4-DAMP. The results indicate that about half of the pressor response to intraventricular injection of neostigmine was mediated through M2 muscarinic receptors in the posterior hypothalamic nuclei, and the remainder through M2 muscarinic receptors in other regions of the brain.