Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons^™

The Effects Of Hypothalamic Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor On Catecholaminergic Regulation Of Cardiovascular Function., Nicholas Christopher Cruickshank

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Considerable evidence supports the claim that a hyperactive sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is involved in most cases of human hypertension, and therefore a more thorough understanding of the central regulation of the SNS may help elucidate novel therapeutic options. The PVN is a key region in SNS regulation of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). Stimulation of the parvocellular PVN neurons has been shown to enhance sympathetic outflow and thereby increase BP. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a modulator of neuronal activity is upregulated in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) in response to several hypertensive stimuli such as …