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Accumulating evidence suggests that the nongenomic cardiovascular actions of aldosterone are produced by varied cellular pathways and mediated by a multitude of messenger systems including the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Considering the involvement of the oxidative and nitrosative stress in the pathways leading to the activation of the angiotensin — aldosterone system, in the current study we tried to evaluate the functional interactions between aldosterone, angiotensin II and antioxidants in isolated vascular smooth muscle of aortic rings from rats. Our data provide additional arguments that the nongenomic actions of aldosterone on aortic smooth muscle cells of rats are a question of cross-talk and balance between its rapid vasoconstrictor and vasodilator effects, as result of the activation of reactive oxygen species in the first case and of nitrogen species in the second. In this way, it seems that at low ambient oxidative stress, aldosterone promotes nitric oxide (NO) production and vasodilatation, while in situations with increased oxidative stress the endothelial dysfunction and detrimental effects induced by vasoconstriction will prevail. Thus, aldosterone could be considered both “friend and foe”. This could be relevant for the ways in which aldosterone damages cardiovascular functions and could lead to significant therapeutic improvements.

Aspects Regarding the Neurobiology of Psycho-Affective FunctionsIn this mini-review we were interested in analyzing the main achievements concerning the neurobiological substrate of the human psycho-affective functions. The cortico-subcortical areas implicated in the elaboration and the control of the sensorial and psycho-affective reactions of the human brain are described, as well as the neurobiological basis of the psychic and affective manifestations, with focus on the new achievements in understanding the genetic, morpho-chemical and electromagnetic bases of the psycho-affective and behavioral manifestations, both normal and pathological. It is known that emotional states like anxiety, fear or anger generate complex psycho-affective reactions that are controlled by the limbic system, which is called the emotional brain. This is connected with the polyneuronal circuits of the Papez loop, the hypothalamic-pituitary complex and the reticular formation of the brainstem. Some imagistic aspects concerning the implication of the amygdala and the cingulate gyrus in laughing and crying are mentioned, as well as the cerebral areas implicated in romantic and maternal love. Also, some electromagnetic manifestations of the brain are presented, introducing the concept of «electromagnetic plasma», as a possible component of the human brain activity.