AIMTo investigate the effect of hypothalamic thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on cardiac function and its mechanism.

METHODSThe Sprague-Dawley rats were mounted in a stereotaxic apparatus and a guide cannula placed in the left hypophysiotropic area, through which TRH were microinjected in presence or absence of L-NAME and atropine. The left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), heart rate (HR) and the maximum velocity of ascending or descending in intraventricular pressure (+/- dp/dt(max)) were recorded.

RESULTS(1) TRH microinjected into the hypophysiotropic area induced a significant increase of LVSP, HR, dp/dt and-dp/dt(max) (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (2) L-NAME significant increased LVSP and pretreatment with L-NAME inhibited the positive effects induced by TRH. (3) Atropine increased LVSP and dp/dt(max) (P < 0.05), but it significantly descended heart rate (P < 0.05). Pretreatment with atropine weakened the tachycardiac response induced by TRH.

CONCLUSION(1) Hypothalamic TRH can produce positive inotropic and chronotropic response to myocardium. (2) Hypothalamic endogenous NO can descend LVSP, but has no effects on HR, dp/dt(max), and-dp/dt(max). The effect of TRH is through nitric oxide-dependent pathway. (3) Hypothalamic endogenous cholinergic transmitter can produce negative chronotropic and positive inotropic response to myocardium. Hypothalamic TRH mediates cardiac function maybe partly through cholinergic M receptor.