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Borneol reduces sympathetic vasomotor hyperactivity and restores depressed baroreflex sensitivity in rats with renovascular hypertension

Hypertension Research volume 45, pages 802–813 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Borneol is a bicyclic monoterpene that has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to increase blood–brain barrier permeability and has shown promising cardiovascular effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of borneol on vascular tone, blood pressure, autonomic function, and baroreflex sensitivity in normotensive and hypertensive rats. A combination of in vitro and in vivo assays was performed in 2-kidneys-1-clip hypertensive rats (2K1C) and their controls (sham). We assessed the in vivo effect of oral treatment with borneol on blood pressure, heart rate, autonomic function, and baroreflex sensitivity in sham and 2K1C rats. Additionally, the vasorelaxant effect of borneol in the superior mesenteric artery isolated from rats and its mechanism of action were evaluated. Oral administration of borneol (125 mg/kg/day) reduced blood pressure, sympathetic vasomotor hyperactivity, and serum oxidative stress and improved baroreflex sensitivity in 2K1C rats. In vessel preparations, borneol induced endothelium-independent vasodilatation after precontraction with phenylephrine or KCl (60 mM). There was no difference in the vascular effect induced by borneol in either the 2K1C or the sham group. In addition, borneol antagonized the contractions induced by CaCl2 and reversed (S)-(−)-Bay K 8644-induced contraction. These data suggest that borneol presents antihypertensive effects in 2K1C rats, which is associated with its ability to improve autonomic impairment and baroreflex dysfunction. The borneol-induced relaxation in the superior mesenteric artery involves L-type Ca2+ channel blockade. This vascular action associated with the antioxidant effect induced by borneol may be responsible, at least in part, for the in vivo effects induced by this monoterpene.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Clênia Cavalcante, Matheus Monteiro, and Sara Alves for the technical assistance during the execution of this work.

Funding

This study was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq); Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brazil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001; and Universidade Federal da Paraíba and Paraíba State Research Foundation (FAPESQ, ID: 007/2019 FAPESQ-PB-MCT/CNPq).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil

    Mickael S. Luz, Renata A. Travassos, Alynne Carvalho-Galvão, Josiane C. Cruz, Valdir A. Braga & Maria S. França-Falcão

  2. Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil

    Danilo D. A. Gadelha, Juliene D. Ribeiro & Camille M. Balarini

  3. Centro de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil

    Kaio J. S. Andrade

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Luz, M.S., Gadelha, D.D.A., Andrade, K.J.S. et al. Borneol reduces sympathetic vasomotor hyperactivity and restores depressed baroreflex sensitivity in rats with renovascular hypertension. Hypertens Res 45, 802–813 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-022-00868-6

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