The consequences of unfavourable environmental and endogenous changes induc
ing stress in animals were discussed in this paper, and were based on the c
lassic stress theory of Cannon and Selye.
Dopamine and norepinerphrine, as neurotransmitters of motivation and subcor
tical motor (earlier - extrapyramidal motor system) systems, play a very im
portant role in stress development.
Apart from the action of these hormones, the importance of endogenous opioi
d peptides and glucocorticoides inducing adaptation as well as the contradi
ctory influence of CCK2 were analysed. The anti-stress activity of neurolep
tic and anxiolytic drugs, as well as antagonists of central CCK receptors i
n animals confirm the importance of their influence.