Endocrine Regulatory Mechanisms of Blood Flow: Vasoactive Peptides

Abstract

Several vasoactive substances released from the peripheral or autonomic nervous system, the adrenals, and the kidneys support the regulation of vascular tone and cardiac output through endocrine, autocrine, and paracrine mechanisms. Dysregulation of the expression or activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAS), kallikrein-kinin system (KKS), and the catecholamine or vasoactive peptide signaling pathways can affect cardiac homeostasis and might thus be targets for therapeutic interventions in the treatment of several diseases.