The authors attempt in the submitted review to present an integrated picture of the contemporary state of knowledge in the area of neuroimmunomodulation which most probably is in the background of psychosomatic medicine. In the submitted paper the authors describe the role of the central nervous system in immune defense and characterize neuroanatomical structures responsible for the regulation of immune functions. Special attention is paid to the activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary system and autonomous nervous system under physiological as well as experimental and some pathological conditions.

        Key words: psychosomatics, stress, neurotransmitters, neuroimmunomodulation, hypothalamo-pitui- tary complex, autonomous nervous system, modulating systems, acute phase proteins