Adrenovascular lesions from neurogenic stress modified by suppression of nervous centres in rat.

Adrenovascular lesions (hemorrhages and/or edema) caused by neurogenic stress, are modified by suppression of different nervous centres. Spinal transection at Th5 abolishes the adrenovascular response to neurogenic stress. Destruction of the anterior or posterior hypothalamus decreases this vascular response; the greatest effect was obtained by destruction of the hypothalamus medius or by hemidecortication. This effect was bilateral but more manifest contralaterally in cases with unilateral destruction. These results show that the adrenovascular reaction to neurogenic stress is regulated by the central nervous system, mainly by the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex.