CardioVIP

Understanding how the brain controls the cardiovascular system is a key concern in physiology. The Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis (BNST), a structure of the limbic system, plays a central role in this regulation, particularly due to its dense neuronal terminals releasing Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP). The CardioVIP project explores the influence of this neuropeptide on the vascular, glial, and neuronal physiology of the BNST and its impact on cardiovascular functions. The BNST, as part of the extended amygdala, is a key integrative center for cardiovascular control. It receives excitatory inputs from the Lateral Parabrachial Nucleus (lPBN), a crucial player in processing cardiovascular information. The BNST then projects to the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMX), regulating heart activity through the parasympathetic system. CardioVIP hypothesizes that inputs from the lPBN and VIP from the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) exert opposing effects on BNST neurons projecting to the DMX, with one promoting bradycardia and the other tachycardia. By acting on blood vessels and astrocytes, VIP is thought to control oxygen and nutrient supply to neurons via vasodilation. CardioVIP aims to elucidate how VIP, released in the BNST, impacts neurons, astrocytes, and blood vessels to regulate cardiovascular functions. CardioVIP could have sex/gender-specific therapeutic implications in various neurological conditions, particularly anxiety, anxiety-induced brain damage, and cerebral ischemia.