Homeostatic systems, biocybernetics, and autonomic neuroscience.

In this review we describe a series of major concepts introduced during the past 150years that have contributed to our current understanding about how physiological processes required for well-being and survival are regulated. One can theorize that hierarchical networks involving input-output relationships continuously orchestrate and learn adaptive patterns of observable behaviors, cognition, memory, mood, and autonomic systems. Taken together, these networks function as "good regulators" determining levels of internal variables and act as if there were homeostatic comparators ("homeostats").

Linking Stress, Catecholamine Autotoxicity, and Allostatic Load with Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Focused Review in Memory of Richard Kvetnansky.

In this Focused Review, we provide an update about evolving concepts that may link chronic stress and catecholamine autotoxicity with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Richard Kvetnansky's contributions to the field of stress and catecholamine systems inspired some of the ideas presented here. We propose that coordination of catecholaminergic systems mediates adjustments maintaining health and that senescence-related disintegration of these systems leads to disorders of regulation and to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

Determinants of denervation-independent depletion of putamen dopamine in Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy.

Background: Severe putamen dopamine depletion characterizes Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). The extent of the depletion is greater than can be accounted for by loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic terminals alone. We used putamen tissue levels and ratios of cysteinyl and parent catechols to explore possible denervation-independent abnormalities of dopamine synthesis and fate in PD and MSA.

Autoimmunity-associated autonomic failure with sympathetic denervation.

We report a case of autoimmunity-associated autonomic failure in a young adult woman who developed arthritis followed 3 years later by pandysautonomia. There was early recovery of parasympathetic functions but persistent neurogenic orthostatic hypotension from post-ganglionic sympathetic denervation. Clinical laboratory testing indicated variable amounts of sympathetic neuronal re-sprouting in the heart, kidneys, eyes, and body as a whole upon follow-up evaluation after 1.