Fig. 8

a Effect of excitatory photostimulation at the axonal terminal in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) from the CAMK2-expressing neurons in the vestibular nucleus complex (VNC) on the arterial pressure (AP), heart rate (HR), and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) in conscious rats. The duration of the photostimulation is 1 s. b–d Summarized data of the change in AP (b), HR (c), and RSNA (d) induced by excitatory (ChR2) photostimulation at the axonal terminal in the RVLM from CAMK2-expressing neurons in the VNC in conscious rats. The duration of the photostimulation is 1 s. Statistics: paired t test; t(7) = 7.737 P = 0.0001 (b), t(7) = 7.055 P = 0.0002 (c), and t(7) = 6.375, P = 0.0004 (d). Triple significance symbol indicates P < 0.001. e Location of the fiber optic tips for the excitatory (ChR2) photostimulation at the axonal terminal in the RVLM from CAMK2-expressing neurons in the VNC