title: Function and modulation of premotor brainstem parasympathetic cardiac neurons that control heart rate by hypoxia-, sleep-, and sleep-related diseases including obstructive sleep apnea.
abstract: Parasympathetic cardiac vagal neurons (CVNs) in the brainstem dominate the control of heart rate. Previous work has determined that these neurons are inherently silent, and their activity is largely determined by synaptic inputs to CVNs that include four major types of synapses that release glutamate, GABA, glycine, or serotonin. Whereas prior reviews have focused on glutamatergic, GABAergic and glycinergic pathways, and the receptors in CVNs activated by these neurotransmitters, this review focuses on the alterations in CVN activity with hypoxia-, sleep-, and sleep-related cardiovascular diseases including obstructive sleep apnea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dergacheva
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Letitia A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Weigand
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Jhansi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dyavanapalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Jacquelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mares
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: dmendel@gwu.edu.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mendelowitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology
keywords: REM; ambiguus; apnea; cardiac; non-REM; obstructive; parasympathetic; serotonin; sleep; vagal