La importancia fisiológica del tronco del encéfalo la ha convertido en una de las estructuras más estudiadas del sistema nervioso central de mamíferos (incluido el humano). Esta estructura recibe impulsos somáticos y viscerales, además de enviar eferencias motoras mediante los nervios craneales que inervan la cabeza, el cuello y órganos sensoriales, mediando en diferentes acciones tales como movimiento, dolor, mecanismos cardiovasculares, respiratorios, salivación, sueño y vigilia, como también mecanismos sexuales. Muchas de esas acciones son mediadas por sustancia neuroactivas denominadas neuropéptidos, los cuales son cadenas cortas de aminoácidos ampliamente distribuidos en el sistema nervioso que juegan un papel en la neurotransmisión, neuromodulación (acciones paracrina y autocrina)y actúan como neurohormonas. A partir de los años ochenta se incrementó el estudio de estas sustancias que han permitido ampliar el conocimiento sobre papel y la forma en que estas median en las diferentes actividades del organismo. Por lo tanto, nuestro objetivo es realizar una revisión detallada de los datos morfológicos y fisiológicos disponibles respecto a algunos neuropéptidos en el tronco del encéfalo humano. Para tal fin discutiremos aspectos como: 1) la distribución de neuropéptidos en el tronco del encéfalo humano; 2) las posibles acciones fisiológicas en el tronco del encéfalo humano; 3) la coexistencia de neuropeptidos en el tronco del encéfalo humano; y 4) investigaciones futuras de neuropeptidos en el tronco del encéfalo humano. Palabras clave: neuropéptidos; mesencéfalo; puente; medulla oblongata; humano. The physiological importance of the brainstem has made it one of the most studied structures of the central nervous system of mammals (including human). This structure receives somatic and visceral inputs and its neurons send motor efferences by means of the cranial nerves, which innervate the head, neck and sensory organs, and it mediates in several actions such as movement, pain, cardiovascular, respiratory, salivary, sleep, vigil and sexual mechanisms. Most of these actions are mediated by neuroactive substances denominated neuropeptides, which are short amino acid chains widespread distributed in the nervous system, that play a role in neurotransmission, neuromodulation (paracrine and autocrine actions), and act as neurohormones. Increased study of these substances has taken place since the 1980s to shed light on both their potential role and the way that they mediate in the organism's different activities. Thus, our aim is a detailed review of available morphologic and physiologic data regarding some neuropeptides in the human brainstem. To such end, we will discuss aspects like: 1) the distribution of neuropeptides in the human brainstem; 2) their possible physiological actions in the human brainstem; 3) neuropeptide coexistences in the human brainstem; and 4) future research in neuropeptides in the human brainstem. Key words: neuropeptides; mesencephalon; pons; medulla oblongata; human.
The physiological importance of the brainstem has made it one of the most studied structures of the central nervous system of mammals (including human). This structure receives somatic and visceral inputs and its neurons send motor efferences by means of the cranial nerves, which innervate the head, neck and sensory organs, and it mediates in several actions such as movement, pain, cardiovascular, respiratory, salivary, sleep, vigil and sexual mechanisms. Most of these actions are mediated by neuroactive substances denominated neuropeptides, which are short amino acid chains widespread distributed in the nervous system, that play a role in neurotransmission, neuromodulation (paracrine and autocrine actions), and act as neurohormones. Increased study of these substances has taken place since the 1980s to shed light on both their potential role and the way that they mediate in the organism’s different activities. Thus, our aim is a detailed review of available morphologic and physiologic data regarding some neuropeptides in the human brainstem. To such end, we will discuss aspects like: 1) the distribution of neuropeptides in the human brainstem; 2) their possible physiological actions in the human brainstem; 3) neuropeptide coexistences in the human brainstem; and 4) future research in neuropeptides in the human brainstem.
