Lyudmyla I. Kvochina, PhD
Research Interests
Neurohumoral control of cardiovascular system, effects of ovarian hormones on the brain regulation of circulation
Research Description
Research is focused on the effects that sexual hormones have on the central nervous system mechanisms that control blood pressure and the sympathetic nervous system in female animals. The major focus of investigation is to understand which CNS sites and pathways, as well as neuromediators, are involved in regulation of pregnancy initiated changes in the cardiovascular system. Pregnancy is associated with a shift in balance between excitatory and inhibitory processes in the brain. Understanding mechanisms in these brain centers will allow predicting and/or correcting some critical states during pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia.
We have recently found an increase in tonic inhibitory influences in one of the brain stem sites which is responsible for the regulation of the cardiovascular system. Understanding the mechanisms for centrally attenuated reflex sympathoexcitation in normal pregnancy is important to ultimately determine mechanisms for increases of arterial blood pressure in hypertensive disorders, when sympathoexcitatory - symoathoinhibitory responses in brain are misbalanced toward excitation. The experimental procedure used in Kvochina's studies include measurements of arterial blood pressure, heart rate, sympathetic nerve activity, CNS microinjections of neurotransmitters naturally utilized in brain, and histological verification of brain sites.
