Role of the mesencephalic reticular formation in hormone production during chronic emotional stress

Neuroendocrine Mechanisms of Hypertensive States Developing during Chronic Emotional Stress

“…Among the problems to be fully elucidated mention should be made of the variations in the functional state of cortical-subcortical structures and associated hormonal secretion in the course of hypertension development during long-term and regu lary repeated emotional stresses in a pathogenic environment. Our relevant experiments (Amiragova and Archangelskaya, 1982;Amiragova and Archangelskaya, 1983;Amiragoya et al, 1984;Amiragova, 1985;Amiragova et al, 1985) have demonstrated that during the first day of exposure of animals to immobilization combined with electric foot shock the EEGs of cortical-subcortical structures show primary activation of the posterior hypothalamic nucleus and then cycles of burst activity of slow waves in all the structures examined. These cycles are transient but appear periodically throughout the study.…”

“…These EEG changes were accompanied by extended vascular and endocrine responses to IF'S which persisted for a week or longer. Then after completion of the experiments hormonal homeostasis giadually returned to the normal while BP remained elevated for a long period of time (Amiragova and Archangelskaya, 1983;Amiragova et al, 1984;Amiragova, 1985;Amiragova et al, 1985).…”

“…Neurophysiological analysis of the cortical-subcortical structures after bilateral coagulation of the posterior hypothalamic nuclei have demonstrated that no stressreaction can develop without these structures; this is the finding which explains the lack of appropriate autonomie and hormonal changes typical of stress manifestations (Amiragova and Archangelskaya, 1983).…”

“…In view of the above properties of neurons of the reticular formation, it was important to clarify the participation of the MBRF in the above neuroendocrine and vascular manifestation of emotional stress. Alter MBRF coagulation no persistent excitation occurred in the CNS structures of the stressed animals; EEG reactions were noticeably reduced as compared to those in intact animals; accordingly, hormonal reactions of the adrenal cortex were sporadic, increasing only at certain stages of the stress-reaction (Amiragova and Archangelskaya, 1983). It was experimentally shown that hypertensive states could not be induced in the absence of the MBRF (Amiragova, 1962;Amiragova et al, 1985).…”