Involvement of biogenic amines and amino acids in the central regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis.

Biogenic amines and amino acids have been implicated in central cardiovascular homeostasis. Initially, drugs were injected into the brain and their effects on blood pressure were investigated. Other approaches allowed endogenous neurotransmitters released in the extracellular space of brain structures involved in cardiovascular regulation to be identified. As Nicolas Singewald and Athineos Philippu outline, even slight disturbances in blood pressure and/or isovolaemia lead to marked changes in the release rates of biogenic amines and amino acids in various brain structures. Blood pressure homeostasis is maintained with the participation of several brain regions and neurotransmitters which possess the same or opposing functions when released from CNS neurones.