Brain Peptides and Catecholamines in Cardiovascular Regulation

Brain Peptides and Catecholamines in Cardiovascular Regulation - Joseph P.Buckley

Cardiovascular regulation depends on the constant monitoring of arterial pressure, central venous pressure, and cardiac rate and force. Populations of cardiovascular-selective sensory neurons supply a constant stream of information and these viscerosensory neurons belong to cellular/molecular phenotypic classes based on axon myelination that are broadly similar to sensory neurons of the skin (somatic afferents). Baroreceptors are concentrated near the bifurcation of the common carotid artery (carotid sinus) and just outside the left ventricle in the arch of the thoracic aorta. Neurites from arterial baroreceptors lie within the adventitia, the outermost layer of the artery wall. This position within the artery wall means that they are stretched with each expansion of the artery wall that accompanies each expulsion of blood from the heart.