title: The nervous heart.
abstract: Many cardiac electrophysiological abnormalities are accompanied by autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Here, we review mechanisms by which the cardiac nervous system controls normal and abnormal excitability and may contribute to atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Moreover, we explore the potential antiarrhythmic and/or arrhythmogenic effects of modulating the autonomic nervous system by several strategies, including ganglionated plexi ablation, vagal and spinal cord stimulations, and renal sympathetic denervation as therapies for atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, 451 Health Sciences Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA. Electronic address: cripplinger@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Crystal M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ripplinger
authors.affiliation: Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. Electronic address: snoujaim@health.usf.edu.
authors.forename: Sami F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Noujaim
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Innere Medizin III, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, 66421 Homburg, Saar, Germany. Electronic address: Dominik.Linz@uks.eu.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Linz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000294:innervation*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Autonomic control; Cardiac nerves; Ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation