Meet)ng Heport

Clinical Autonomic Research 1, 75-76 (1991)

Report on the 20th International Congress of Neurovegetative (Autonomic) Research, September 1990, Tokyo, Japan

This international congress on neurovegetative research held in Tokyo from September 10-14, 1990 clearly indicated the growth of neurovegetative (autonomic) research worldwide and the long- standing and important contributions made by Japanese scientists and clinicians. The increasing concern with an ageing society throughout the developed world was reflected not only in the president's inaugural lecture 'Autonomic Nervous System and the Ageing Society' (Professor M. Yoshikawa), but also in numerous other papers.

The wide-ranging influence of the autonomic nervous system was reflected in the diversity of main topics, which included; special lectures on behavioural influences, time order and homeostatic feedback in cardiorespiratory control (H. P. Koepchen); clinical classifications of disorders of the autonomic nervous system (R. Bannister); new insights on the mechanisms of action of ganglionic blocking agents (V. Skok); neuromechanisms in the control of blood glucose levels (A. Niijima); pathologic physiology of the gut without the myenteric plexus (E. Okamoto); structure and function of the serotonin neuron system in the mammalian brain and immunohistochemical study (Y. Sano); and autonomic innervation of vasa nervorum of normal and neuropathic human sural nerves (O. Appenzeller).

Poster sessions and satellite lectures were logically braced and included: recent advances in treatment of autonomic disorders, clinical evalu- ation of autonomic function, autonomic interac- tions with bio-rhythms, autonomic control and dysfunction of the circulation and respiration, the pupil, sexual function and autonomic nervous control, somatosensory regulation, chrono-biology and chrono-medicine, thermoregulation, age and obesity, central autonomic structures, neuro- transmitters, acupuncture and psychosomatic dis- orders, and the gastrointestinal tract.

Of great interest was the special lecture on the role of neurovegetative research in the neuro- sciences (F. Seitelberger), who reminded the large audience of the fundamental role of the autonomic nervous system in the development of clinical and

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basic neuroscientific thought, which has been fostered through international collaboration, orche- strated by the International Society of Neurovegeta- tire Research for many decades.

The autonomic modulation of immunity and stress responses was reviewed, particularly the autonomic effects of cytokines. The role of peptides in pyresis and pyrogenic cytokines and their implication in fever was extensively discussed. A whole session was devoted to a reappraisal of clinical autonomic function tests and the value of new technologies, which put this important clinical aspect of autonomic research into proper perspective. New drugs for the treatment of or~hostatic hypotension were discussed and the chrono-biology of peptides and their relation to affective disorders received attention.

Adaptation to altitude and thermal stress in animals and humans and the role of paracrine hormones produced by endothelial cells on autonomic control of respiration and other function were highlighted. Diabetes mellitus and autonomic function was well represented as a common clinical problem and newer noninvasive assessment of cardiovascular function by power spectral analysis of heart rate and arterial pressures were discussed. The role of endothelial factors in gastrointestinal function and visceral motility studies and the numerous peptides discovered in enteric nerves were extensively reviewed. The eye was the subject of numerous presentations. These included clinical and immunohistochemical investigations and im- portant contributions to the single clinically most accessible structure with pure autonomic innerva- tion, the iris. Sexual function, predictably, con- tinues to attract a large number of clinical and basic investigators, and animal models for a variety of sexual disorders in humans were discussed, though their relevance to human sexuality remains to be assessed. The influence of the autonomic nervous system on the control of circulatory responses to orthostasis in various vascular beds was well represented.

The meeting was extremely well organized, and the social aspects were handled with the usual grace

Clinical Autonomic Research. vol 1 • 1991 75

Meeting Report

and attention to detail by Japanese hosts. The proceedings will be published by Elsevier Bio- medical Press (International Congress Series).

The executive committee of the International Society of Neurovegetative Research, under the chairmanship of Professor Masaki Yoshikawa, met and elected Professor Alberto Malliani of Milano as the president of the 21st International Congress of

Neurovegetative Research, to be held in Italy in 1993.

O. Appenzeller Visiting Scientist

Oxygen Transport Program, Lovelace Medical Foundation and Center for Basic and Applied Medical Research,

Albuquerque, New Mexico 8708-5129, USA

76 Clinical Au tonomic Research. vol 1 • 1991