Neuroendocrine heart and hypothalamus.

Data on the endocrine heart--neurosecretory cells of heart, producing coronary-dilatory, metabolically active glycopeptides with physico-chemical and biological properties similar to those of previously discovered cardioactive hypothalamic neurohormones--are summarized. Heart hormones participate in both local and distant regulation of heart metabolism and function. Formation and action of these heart hormones is closely related to hypothalamic cardioactive neurohormones K, C, and G and their protein precursors. Neurohormones from heart and hypothalamus comprise a system of neurohumoral connections between these two organs. A possible role of APUD cells in the generation of a number of heart peptides and glycopeptides exerting hormonal activity is discussed.