[Neuropharmacology of the autonomic vestibular syndrome]

It was found during studies on man and experiments on animals that various neuromediator systems of the organism (M-cholinergic, H1-histaminergic, dopaminergic, and opioidergic) are involved in the genesis of VVS. In addition, animal experiments showed that of great importance in the process are different regulatory peptides, in particular, substance P and beta-endorphin. The findings indicate that some neuropeptides may be used in the future in man for VVS prevention. At neuronal level the role of opioid peptides in realization of vestibulovegetative reactions is decoded and a number of possible mechanisms of their action is established. The study of the human hormonal status in VVS revealed complex neuroendocrine changes occurring in the organism. Based on the knowledge of some neurohormonal and neurochemical mechanisms of VVS pathogenesis, a new drug prevention and therapy of seasickness was proposed, efficacy of opioid antagonists naloxone and nalorphine was shown.