Evidence for L-dopa relevant to modulation of sympathetic activity in the rostral ventrolateral medulla of rats.

By microdialysis in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) of anesthetized rats, the spontaneous L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) release was partially Ca(2+)-dependent and tetrodotoxin-sensitive and was markedly reduced by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha-MPT; 200 mg/kg, i.p.). K+ (50 mM) Ca(2+)-dependently evoked L-DOPA. By microinjections into unilateral RVLM, L-DOPA (30-300 ng) produced dose-dependent hypertension and tachycardia similarly in rats untreated, treated with i.p. 3-hydroxybenzylhydrazine, a central DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor, or with i.v.t. 6-hydroxydopamine. These responses were antagonized by L-DOPA methyl ester (1.5 micrograms), a competitive L-DOPA antagonist. D-DOPA, dopamine, noradrenaline or adrenaline (300 ng) produced no effect. Furthermore, L-DOPA methyl ester alone microinjected into bilateral RVLM (2 micrograms x 2) produced prolonged hypotension and bradycardia, which were abolished by alpha-MPT. These data suggest that L-DOPA is relevant to modulation of sympathetic activity in the rat RVLM.