Plastic Alteration of Vestibulo-cardiovascular Reflex Induced by 2 Weeks of 3-G Load in Conscious Rats

Previous studies conducted in our laboratory have demonstrated that the vestibular system plays a significant role in controlling arterial pressure (AP) in conscious rats under conditions of transient microgravity. The vestibular system is known to be highly plastic, and on exposure to different gravitational environments, the sensitivity of the vestibular system-mediated AP response might be altered. In order to test this hypothesis, rats were maintained in a 3-G or a normal 1-G environment for 2 weeks, and the AP responses to free drop-induced microgravity were determined. In 1-G rats, the microgravity increased the AP by 37 +/- 3 mmHg; this pressor response was significantly attenuated by vestibular lesion (VL) (24 +/- 3 mmHg) or body stabilization (29 +/- 2 mmHg). Thus, the microgravity-induced pressor response was mediated by both the vestibular and nonvestibular systems; the input of the latter system was blocked by body stabilization. In the 3-G rats, the pressor responses were significantly suppressed compared to those in the corresponding 1-G rats; i.e., the AP increased by 24 +/- 2 mmHg in freely moving 3-G rats, by 10 +/- 4 mmHg in 3-G rats with VL, and by 13 +/- 4 mmHg in stabilized 3-G rats. Furthermore, there was no difference between the 1- and 3-G rats in terms of the pressor response induced by stressors such as a loud noise or an air jet. These results indicate that pre-exposure to 3-G for 2 weeks induces plasticity in both the vestibular- and nonvestibular-mediated AP responses to microgravity.