The hypothalamus and its role in hypertension.

For the majority of hypertensive patients, the etiology of their disease is unknown. The hypothalamus is a central structure of the brain which provides an adaptive, integrative, autonomic, and neuroendocrine response to any fluctuations in physiological conditions of the external or internal environment. Hypothalamic insufficiency leads to severe metabolic and functional disorders, including persistent increase in blood pressure.

Role of microglial amylin receptors in mediating beta amyloid (Aβ)-induced inflammation.

Background: Neuroinflammation in the brain consequent to activation of microglia is viewed as an important component of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Amyloid beta (Aβ) protein is known to activate microglia and unleash an inflammatory cascade that eventually results in neuronal dysfunction and death. In this study, we sought to identify the presence of amylin receptors on human fetal and murine microglia and determine whether Aβ activation of the inflammasome complex and subsequent release of cytokines is mediated through these receptors.

The hypothalamic neuropeptide FF network is impaired in hypertensive patients.

Background: The human hypothalamus contains the neuropeptide FF (NPFF) neurochemical network. Animal experiments demonstrated that NPFF is implicated in the central cardiovascular regulation. We therefore studied expression of this peptide in the hypothalamus of individuals who suffered from essential hypertension (n = 8) and died suddenly due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and compared to that of healthy individuals (controls) (n = 6) who died abruptly due to mechanical trauma of the chest.

Macromolecular networks and intelligence in microorganisms.

Living organisms persist by virtue of complex interactions among many components organized into dynamic, environment-responsive networks that span multiple scales and dimensions. Biological networks constitute a type of information and communication technology (ICT): they receive information from the outside and inside of cells, integrate and interpret this information, and then activate a response. Biological networks enable molecules within cells, and even cells themselves, to communicate with each other and their environment.

Role of neuropeptide FF in central cardiovascular and neuroendocrine regulation.

Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) is an octapeptide belonging to the RFamide family of peptides that have been implicated in a wide variety of physiological functions in the brain including central cardiovascular and neuroendocrine regulation. The effects of these peptides are mediated via NPFF1 and NPFF2 receptors that are abundantly expressed in the rat and human brain. Herein, we review evidence for the role of NPFF in central regulation of blood pressure particularly within the brainstem and the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN).

Emergence of the silicon human and network targeting drugs.

The development of disease may be characterized as a pathological shift of homeostasis; the main goal of contemporary drug treatment is, therefore, to return the pathological homeostasis back to the normal physiological range. From the view point of systems biology, homeostasis emerges from the interactions within the network of biomolecules (e.g.

Vasopressin (VP) and neuropeptide FF (NPFF) systems in the normal and hypertensive human brainstem.

Vasopressin (VP)-, neuropeptide FF (NPFF)-, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-expressing neurons were studied by means of single and double immunocytochemistry in the human brainstem of controls who died suddenly due to trauma and of patients who suffered from essential hypertension and died due to acute myocardial infarction, while in one case there was brain hemorrhage. In the control and hypertensive groups VP fibers and NPFF neurons and fibers were the most abundantly present in the dorsal vagal complex, especially in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. Numerous VP and NPFF fibers formed synaptic-like contacts with neuronal profiles in the dorsointermediate, centrointermediate, ventrointermediate, caudointermediate, and caudal parts of the dorsal motor nucleus of vagus as well as adjacent medial and intermediate subnuclei of the solitary nucleus.

Neuropeptide FF2 receptor distribution in the human brain. An immunohistochemical study.

Human neuropeptide FF2 (hFF2) receptor has been postulated to mediate central autonomic regulation by virtue of its ability to bind with high affinity to many amidated neuropeptides. In the present immunohistochemical study, we identified hFF2 positive neurons in the forebrain and medulla oblongata of individuals, who died suddenly of mechanical trauma or hypothermia. Morphologically, these neurons demonstrated features identified with both projection neurons and interneurons.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons in hypertensive patients are activated in the hypothalamus but not in the brainstem.

The corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH)-expressing neurons were studied in the hypothalamus and brainstem of individuals who suffered from essential hypertension and had died due to acute myocardial infarction or brain hemorrhage. Healthy normotensive individuals who died in accidents made up the control group. In hypertensive patients we found extremely high expression of CRH in all parts of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (Pa).

Organization of circadian functions: interaction with the body.

The hypothalamus integrates information from the brain and the body; this activity is essential for survival of the individual (adaptation to the environment) and the species (reproduction). As a result, countless functions are regulated by neuroendocrine and autonomic hypothalamic processes in concert with the appropriate behaviour that is mediated by neuronal influences on other brain areas. In the current chapter attention will be focussed on fundamental hypothalamic systems that control metabolism, circulation and the immune system.

Neuropeptide FF distribution in the human and rat forebrain: a comparative immunohistochemical study.

Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) is an octapeptide implicated in a variety of physiological functions, including nociception, cardiovascular responses, and neuroendocrine regulation. The NPFF gene and its mRNA are highly conserved across species. A comparative study of NPFF distribution in the human and rat forebrain was carried out by using single NPFF and double NPFF + vasopressin (VP) immunohistochemistry.

Distribution of the neuropeptide FF1 receptor (hFF1) in the human hypothalamus and surrounding basal forebrain structures: immunohistochemical study.

Neuropeptides with C-terminal RFamide and their receptors NPFF1 (FF1) and NPFF2 (FF2) have been implicated in a wide variety of functions, including nociception and autonomic and neuroendocrine regulation. Recent studies indicate that the FF1, but not FF2, mRNA is highly expressed in the human hypothalamus. In the present study, localization of FF1 in the human hypothalamus and surrounding regions was studied immunohistochemically by using an antibody against human FF1 (hFF1).

Paraventricular nucleus of the human hypothalamus in primary hypertension: activation of corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons.

By using quantitative immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization techniques, we studied corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) -producing neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in patients who suffered from primary hypertension and died due to acute cardiac failure. The control group consisted of individuals who had normal blood pressure and died of acute heart failure due to mechanical trauma. Both magno- and parvocellular populations of CRH neurons appeared to be more numerous in the PVN of hypertensive patients.