Galanin-containing neurons in the solitary nucleus and locus coeruleus of spontaneously hypertensive rats are associated with genetic hypertension.

Spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats contained more galanin (GAL) content and GAL mRNA in locus coeruleus (LC) at the prehypertensive, but not at the well-established hypertensive stage, than did age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. However, there was also more GAL content, but not GAL mRNA, in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) of SHR rats than WKY rats at both stages. This study suggests that galaninergic neurons in the LC and NTS may participate in the pathogenesis of genetic hypertension.