The Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System in Cardiovascular Disease

Journal of Clinical and Basic Cardiology 2001; 4 (3): 175-177

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Keywords: Hypertonie,  I1-Rezeptoren,  Kardiologie,  Moxonidin,  Organschaden,  sympathisches Nervensystem,  cardiology,  hypertension,  I1-receptors,  moxonidine,  organ damage,  SNS overactivity

Many epidemiological studies have shown that increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) leads to an increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Functional and morphological alterations of different organs (eg heart, blood vessels, kidneys) as well as disturbances of glucose and lipid metabolism are the consequence of SNS overactivity. I1-receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla are believed to be involved in the final common pathway for a number of descending influences of the SNS activity. Selective stimulation of these I1-receptors by moxonidine decreases the SNS activity in the periphery. This results in cardiovascular protection and reversal of metabolic disorders due to SNS overactivity.