[Role of cholinoreactive substances of the brain in synthesis and secretion of hypothalamic hormones exerting an influence on cardiac activity].

Our previous studies had shown that cholinergic substances such as acetylcholine, arecoline, prozerine, CoA and gangleron affect the release of neurohormones from brain into blood. Arecoline, prozerine and CoA were also found to stimulate oxidative phosphorylation in heart mitochondria, decrease suprarenal ascorbic acid and raise the level of blood glucose. In the present study these processes were studied following section of the branch of the vagus going to the heart and of the spinal cord, leaving only a humoral connection between the brain and the heart and other organs. Intracisternal injections of arecoline and porzerine (10 microgram/g) resulted in a marked increase of coronary blood flow, stimulation of oxidative phosphorylation in heart mitochondria, decrease of suprarenal ascorbic acid and increase of blood glucose. These results indicate that the above mentioned changes in the biochemical processes studied can be caused by neurohormones and chemical factors that come through a humoral pathway. The processes investigated were found to be less pronounced in these animals than in controls. The results of this study indicate that the central effects of the above-mentioned substances are mainly accomplished through the humoral pathway.