Desensitization by neuropeptide Y of effects of sympathetic stimulation on cardiac vagal action in anaesthetised dogs.

The effects of a long-lasting intravenous infusion of neuropeptide Y (NPY, 180 +/- 8 min, 53 +/- 4 micrograms/kg/h) on the prolonged inhibition of cardiac vagal action evoked by cardiac sympathetic nerve stimulation and bolus intravenous injections of NPY were investigated in anaesthetised dogs. Sympathetic stimulation and NPY injection were performed on four separate occasions; once in control conditions, then once early and again late in the period of NPY infusion, and then on a final occasion 60-90 min after the cessation of NPY infusion. The maximum inhibition of cardiac vagal action evoked by an injection of NPY was significantly less late in the NPY infusion when compared with the other three injection groups (ANOVA, P < 0.001). Also the time to half-recovery of this response was significantly less than that seen in the other three injection groups (ANOVA, P < 0.001). The maximum inhibition of cardiac vagal action evoked by sympathetic stimulation was significantly reduced late in the NPY infusion when compared with the other three stimulation groups (ANOVA, P < 0.0001). The time for half-recovery of this response was also less than that of the other three stimulation groups (ANOVA, P < 0.001). The results indicate that desensitisation of the vagal attenuation to both exogenous NPY and sympathetic stimulation occurred during a long-lasting period of NPY infusion. This is consistent with the proposal that NPY is a mediator of this sympathetic-evoked vagal attenuation.