Fig. 2.

The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus is a central player in the control of behavior, neuroendocrine function, and the autonomic nervous system. This figure shows a diagrammatic representation of some of the brain areas involved in regulating brainstem autonomic nuclei: NTS nucleus of the solitary tract; RVLM rostral ventral lateral medulla. Programming changes in the PVN can influence coincident changes in anxiety and depressive-like behaviors, stress-related neuroendocrine responses, and autonomic stress responses. The PVN also receives important input from circumventricular organs that have an incomplete blood brain barrier (BBB) such as the subfornical organ (SFO) which can respond to circulating peripheral signals such as angiotensin II (Ang II). PS parasympathetic, SYM sympathetic, AT1R angiotensin II receptor subtype 1. Motor X: motor nuclei of the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X). Dashed lines indicate principal projections of the PS nervous system, dotted lines indicate principal projections of the SYM nervous system