Effects of acute emotional stress on the brain and autonomic variables

Under emotional stress (ES) the brain limbic-reticular structures are shown to change first. The integrative interaction of brain structures determines the secondary changes of cardiovascular functions. The effects of ES on autonomic functions are mediated primarily by chemical changes of brain limbic-reticular neurons to neurotransmitters and oligopeptides. Genetic and individual cardiovascular disorders under ES have been demonstrated. Mechanisms of sustained arterial blood hypertension under experimental ES are considered. It has been established that the resistance to ES is strongly dependent on the basic levels of oligopeptides and norepinephrine in the hypothalamus. Additional injections of oligopeptides enhance the resistance to ES.