The central amygdala (CeA) is a crucial modulator of emotional, behavioral, and autonomic functions, including cardiovascular responses. Despite its importance, the specific circuit by which the CeA modulates blood pressure remains insufficiently explored. Our investigations demonstrate that photostimulation of GABAergic neurons in the centromedial amygdala (CeM^GABA), as opposed to those in the centrolateral amygdala (CeL), produces a depressor response in both anesthetized and freely-moving mice. In addition, activation of CeM^GABA axonal terminals projecting to the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) significantly reduces blood pressure. These CeM^GABA neurons form synaptic connections with NTS neurons, allowing for the modulation of cardiovascular responses by influencing the caudal or rostral ventrolateral medulla. Furthermore, CeM^GABA neurons targeting the NTS receive dense inputs from the CeL. Consequently, stimulation of CeM^GABA neurons elicits hypotension through the CeM-NTS circuit, offering deeper insights into the cardiovascular responses associated with emotions and behaviors.
Animals ; GABAergic Neurons/physiology* ; Male ; Central Amygdaloid Nucleus/physiopathology* ; Hypotension/physiopathology* ; Mice ; Blood Pressure/physiology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Solitary Nucleus/physiology* ; Photic Stimulation ; Neural Pathways/physiology*

Objective:To explore the influence of acupoint catgut embedding combined with Xuezhikang capsule on lipid metabolism and antioxidation effect in patients with statin intolerance and hyperlipidemia of spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome.Methods:Randomized controlled trial. A total of 82 patients with statin intolerance and hyperlipidemia who were treated in Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Shanghai Puto Area Central Hospital, and Lingyun community health Service center, Xuhui District from July 2020 to June 2022 were selected and randomly divided into two groups with 41 patients in each group by odd-even ball method. The two groups were given diet and exercise guidance, and the control group was given Xuezhikang capsule orally on this basis, and the observation group was given poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) thread acupoint catgut embedding on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated continuously for 3 months. The TCM syndromes were scored before and after treatment, and body weight (BW), waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. The levels of TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C were detected by fully automatic biochemical analyzer. The levels of serum SOD, GSH-Px and total antioxidant capacity (TAOP) were measured by ELISA. The level of serum endothelin-1 (ET-1) was assessed by radioimmunoassay. Color Doppler ultrasound diagnostic instrument was used to detect the brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NMD).Results:The scores of chilly sensation and cold limbs [(1.27±0.12) vs. (1.46±0.16), t=6.08], loose stool [(1.41±0.16) vs. (1.63±0.18), t=5.85], fatigue [(1.45±0.15) vs. (1.57±0.17), t=3.39], dizziness [(1.15±0.11) vs. (1.26±0.13), t=4.14] and loss of appetite [(1.21±0.13) vs. (1.39±0.15), t=5.81] in observation group after treatment were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01). BW [(68.03±6.57)kg vs. (71.55±6.76)kg, t=2.39], WC [(85.13±4.63)cm vs. (87.35±4.85)cm, t=2.12] and BMI [(27.35±2.84)kg/m 2vs. (29.18±3.05)kg/m 2, t=2.81]were lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05). The levels of serum TC [(3.15±0.13)mmol/L vs. (3.38±0.17)mmol/L, t=6.88], TG [(1.98±0.11)mmol/L vs. (2.21±0.15)mmol/L, t=7.92]and LDL-C [(2.46±0.26)mmol/L vs. (3.04±0.33)mmol/L, t=8.84]were significantly lower compared with those in control group ( P<0.01) while the level of HDL-C [(1.88±0.24)mmol/L vs. (1.74±0.21)mmol/L, t=2.81]was higher than that of the control group ( P<0.01). The levels of serum SOD [(57.82±5.84)μg/L vs. (55.06±5.61)μg/L, t=2.18], GSH-Px [(96.51±9.52)U/L vs. (92.26±9.25)U/L, t=2.30]and TAOP [(6.21±0.57)U/L vs. (5.94±0.54)U/L, t=2.20]were significantly higher compared to control group ( P<0.05). Serum ET-1 [(60.43±4.36) pg/L vs. (63.71±4.68) pg/L, t=3.28] level was significantly lower than that in control group ( P<0.01), while FMD [(12.48±1.02)% vs. (11.34±0.95)%, t=5.24] and NMD [(15.12±1.24)% vs. (14.44±1.18)%, t=2.54] were significantly higher than those in control group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:The combination of acupoint catgut embedding and Xuezhikang capsule can reduce the scores of TCM syndromes, lower the obesity and blood lipids, enhance the antioxidant function and improve the vascular endothelial function in patients with statin intolerance and hyperlipidemia.

The nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) is one of the morphologically and functionally defined centers that engage in the autonomic regulation of cardiovascular activity. Phenotypically-characterized NTS neurons have been implicated in the differential regulation of blood pressure (BP). Here, we investigated whether phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT)-expressing NTS (NTS^PNMT) neurons contribute to the control of BP. We demonstrate that photostimulation of NTS^PNMT neurons has variable effects on BP. A depressor response was produced during optogenetic stimulation of NTS^PNMT neurons projecting to the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, lateral parabrachial nucleus, and caudal ventrolateral medulla. Conversely, photostimulation of NTS^PNMT neurons projecting to the rostral ventrolateral medulla produced a robust pressor response and bradycardia. In addition, genetic ablation of both NTS^PNMT neurons and those projecting to the rostral ventrolateral medulla impaired the arterial baroreflex. Overall, we revealed the neuronal phenotype- and circuit-specific mechanisms underlying the contribution of NTS^PNMT neurons to the regulation of BP.
Solitary Nucleus/metabolism* ; Blood Pressure/physiology* ; Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase/metabolism* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/metabolism*

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) and endoscopic naso-biliary drainage (ENBD) on hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HACC).Methods The clinical data of 87 patients with HACC,who underwent ERBD and ENBD form January 2010 to January 2016,were retrospectively analyzed.The incidence of postoperative severe cholangitis,biliary obstruction again within 4 weeks,reduction of total bilirubin and survival time were studied.Results There were significant differences between ERBD group and ENBD group on the incidence of severe cholangitis[29.2％ (14/48) VS 10.3％ (4/39),x2 =4.689,P=0.030] and bile duct obstruction in 4 weeks after operation [47.9％ (23/48) VS 23.1％ (9/39),x2=5.710,P =0.017].The total bilirubin within 2 weeks and 4 weeks postoperatively was significantly reduced compared with that before operation (P＜0.05).There was no statistical difference in descend range of total bilirubin between the two groups.There was significant difference between ERBD group and ENBD group in the median survival time [14 weeks (range,0-60 weeks) VS 34 weeks (range,2-96 weeks),x2 =10.101,P=0.010].Conclusion Compared to ERBD,ENBD has certain advantages on palliative care for HACC.