NSF Award
9723348
Lay Abstract PI: Caron Dean-Bernhoft, Ph.D. Proposal Number: IBN-9723348 The changes that take place in the heart and blood vessels to maintain blood pressure under a number of conditions are different, since the requirements of the body are not always the same. For example, during confrontations, heart rate and blood flow to the active muscles must go up but blood flow to the kidney can be reduced. On the other hand, when it gets cold, blood flow to the skin decreases while flow to internal organs increases to retain heat. These types of changes in heart rate and blood flow are regulated by a specific part of the brain called the RVLM. This study examines how these nerve cells of the RVLM coordinate nerve activity to regulate the cardiovascular system during different behavioral states. Particular attention is paid to the characteristics of the chemical substances released from cells in this area that modulate the activity of this center, and thus change the pattern of cardiovascular activity. The results from this study contribute to understanding how blood flow and blood pressure are adjusted to meet the needs of the body under different or emergency situations. Such information is fundamental to a deeper understanding of how blood pressure is controlled.
