Relationship of Substance P to Catecholamines, Stress, and Hypertension

Abstract

This paper presents results on the function of the adrenal medulla, especially the influence of substance P (SP) on the cholinergic-adrenergic interaction. Interconnections between the function of SP and its role in the development and maintenance of hypertension as well as its role in stress and adaptation are investigated. Substance P acts only in situations with an increased nervous activity, for example, after stress-induced activation of the pituitary-adrenal and sympathetic-adrenal axis. Substance P normalizes stress-induced disorders by maintaining homeostasis in the catecholamine system. The basis of the antistress effect is the modulation of both biosynthesis and release of catecholamines in the adrenals. The homeostasis effect of SP, as well as the antistress effect do not require the complete sequence of the molecule. The N-terminal SP fragment is fully active and has no side effects.