Cardiovascular Control by Cholinergic Mechanisms in the Central Nervous System

Despite an extensive research effort over the last few decades, under­ standing of how the central nervous system (CNS)! controls the circulation is at best still incomplete. Many symposia and reviews have detailed the function of catecholaminergic (CCA) pathways in the central connections of the autonomic nervous system (1-6). It is widely recognized that several methodological advances [e.g. chemical ablation by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-0HDA), sensitive and selective methods for detection and quantitation of CCA, use of specific substances which can alter formation, metabolism or release of catecholamines], paralleled by the development of drugs which lower blood pressure (BP) through stimulation of central adrenergic recep­ tor sites (e.g. alpha-methyldopa, clonidine), have fostered precocious ad­ vances involving the biogenic amines. Until recently, however, far less