Norepinephrine Turnover - increase in plasma NE=increase in brain NE

Norepinephrine Turnover Is Increased in Suprabulbar Subcortical Brain Regions and Is Related to Whole-Body Sympathetic Activity in Human Heart Failure

Anuradha Aggarwal, MBBS; Murray D. Esler, MBBS, PhD; Gavin W. Lambert, PhD; Jacqueline Hastings, PhD; Leonie Johnston, RN; David M. Kaye, MBBS, PhD

From the Baker Medical Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.

© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.

This study, for the first time, demonstrates elevated suprabulbar subcortical noradrenergic activity in human CHF and identifies a positive correlation between this and the level of whole-body NE spillover. The findings suggest that the activation of noradrenergic neurons projecting rostrally from the brain stem mediates sympathetic nervous stimulation in CHF.