avBNST-PVN circuitry regulates sympathetic tonicity and blood pressure

Psychologic stress acts as a major risk factor for autonomic dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases e.g. hypertension. Hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) has been highlighted in intensified sympathetic tonicity in hypertension. To chart the neuronal circuitry to enhance sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and blood pressure (BP), we found that anterioventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (avBNST), a stress integration nucleus in the limbic system, is the primary GABAergic input to PVN sympathetic neurons using trans-synaptic tracing. The hypothesis of present study is to investigate whether avBNST-PVN pathway is of importance in priming sympathoexcitation and hypertension. The results showed that manipulation of PVN-projecting avBNST neuronal activity by either optogenetic or pharmacological approaches could alter baseline BP and angiotensin II-elicited pressor responses. Furthermore, activation of avBNST-PVN neurons attenuated L-NAME-elicited hypertension and plasma norepinephrine. Together, these results that avBNST neurons exert a tonic inhibitory effect on pressor response, which could be a potential neuronal circuitry in mediating psychological stress to autonomic neurons. NSFC32471157, 82170441 This abstract was presented at the American Physiology Summit 2025 and is only available in HTML format. There is no downloadable file or PDF version. The Physiology editorial board was not involved in the peer review process.