Central noradrenergic neurons: the autonomic connection.
Most CNS noradrenergic (NE) cell groups reside in portions of the medulla oblongata primarily involved in autonomic control (A1, A2, A5) and even the pontine locus coeruleus (A6) receives a major innervation from these medullary areas. This review examines the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological literature relevant to the issue of the role of CNS NE neurons in central autonomic control (with emphasis on cardiovascular control). It is concluded that NE cells, with the possible exception of certain A5 and A1 neurons, have relatively weak or no inputs from visceral cardiovascular afferents but provide a complex "open loop" control over non-aminergic circuits which are more specialized in the processing of cardiovascular and other autonomic reflexes. The question of whether the C1 "adrenergic" cells of the rostral medulla oblongata actually use noradrenaline as a neurotransmitter is also briefly addressed.
Guyenet
P G
PG
University of Virginia School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Charlottesville.
D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000294:innervation; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000502:physiology*; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology*; D011311:Pressoreceptors / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000502:physiology
D009638:Norepinephrine