Central regulation of plasma catecholamine release and secretion induced by stress

Abstract

It is well known that stress not only activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, but also sympatho-adrenomedullary outflow. Activation of these systems leads to secretion of cortisol (corticosterone) or release/secretion of catecholamines. However, the precise mechanisms underlying these phenomena are still unresolved. We previously investigated the mechanisms of central activation of sympatho-adrenomedullary outflow with regard to prostanoid (prostaglandin E₂ and thromboxane A₂) and adrenoceptor (α-and β-adrenoceptors) in the brain using anesthetized rats. In this paper, we outline the regulatory mechanisms of plasma catecholamine levels in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, the major center for regulation of sympathetic function and stress responses, based on our previous reports.