title: Cardiac vagal preganglionic neurones: An update.
abstract: The autonomic nervous system controls the heart by dynamic recruitment and withdrawal of cardiac parasympathetic and sympathetic activities. These activities are generated by groups of sympathoexcitatory and vagal preganglionic neurones residing in a close proximity to each other within well-defined structures of the brainstem. This short essay provides a general overview and an update on the latest developments in our understanding of the central nervous origins and functional significance of cardiac vagal tone. Significant experimental evidence suggests that distinct groups of cardiac vagal preganglionic neurones with different patterns of activity control nodal tissue (controlling the heart rate and atrioventricular conductance) and the ventricular myocardium (modulating its contractility and excitability).
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Neuroscience, Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK. Electronic address: a.gourine@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alexander V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Gourine
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Neuroscience, Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machhada
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Neuroscience, Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trapp
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Neuroscience, Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: K Michael
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Spyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001339:Autonomic Fibers, Preganglionic / Q000502:physiology*; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Atrioventricular conductance; Contractility; Excitability; Left ventricle; Parasympathetic; Vagal preganglionic neurones