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Li M, Sorensen M, Johnson MA, Ingram SL, Andresen MC, Habecker BA. Hypertension increases sympathetic neuron activity by enhancing intraganglionic cholinergic collateral connections. J Physiol 2024. [PMID: 39031543 DOI: 10.1113/jp286601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Autonomic dysregulation, including sympathetic hyperactivity, is a common feature of hypertension (HT) and other cardiovascular diseases. The CNS plays a role in driving chronic sympathetic activation in disease, but several lines of evidence suggest that neuroplasticity in the periphery may also contribute. The potential contribution of postganglionic sympathetic neurons to sustained sympathetic hyperactivity is not well understood. We recently discovered that noradrenergic sympathetic neurons in the stellate ganglion (SG) have excitatory cholinergic collateral connections to other neurons within the ganglion. We hypothesize that remodelling of these neurons and increased cholinergic collateral transmission contributes to sustained sympathetic hyperactivity in cardiovascular diseases, including HT. To test that hypothesis, we examined the activity of sympathetic neurons in isolated SG under control conditions and after 1 week of HT induced by peripheral angiotensin II infusion, using whole-cell patch clamp recordings. Despite the absence of central inputs, we observed elevated spontaneous activity and synaptic transmission in sympathetic SG neurons from hypertensive mice that required generation of action potentials. Genetically disrupting cholinergic transmission in noradrenergic neurons decreased basal neuronal activity and prevented angiotensin II-mediated enhancement of activity. Similar changes in activity, driven by increased collateral transmission, were identified in cardiac projecting neurons and neurons projecting to brown adipose tissue. These changes were not driven by altered A-type K+ currents. This suggests that HT stimulates increased activity throughout the intraganglionic network of collateral connections, contributing to the sustained sympathetic hyperactivity characteristic in cardiovascular disease. KEY POINTS: Sympathetic neurons in ganglia isolated from angiotensin II-treated hypertensive mice are more active than neurons from control mice despite the absence of central activation. The enhanced activity is the result of a ganglionic network of cholinergic collaterals, rather than altered intrinsic excitability. Increased neuronal activity was observed in both cardiac neurons and brown adipose tissue-projecting neurons, which are not involved in cardiovascular homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghua Li
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Michelle Sorensen
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Morgan A Johnson
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Susan L Ingram
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Michael C Andresen
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Beth A Habecker
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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2
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Habecker BA, Bers DM, Birren SJ, Chang R, Herring N, Kay MW, Li D, Mendelowitz D, Mongillo M, Montgomery JM, Ripplinger CM, Tampakakis E, Winbo A, Zaglia T, Zeltner N, Paterson DJ. Molecular and cellular neurocardiology in heart disease. J Physiol 2024. [PMID: 38778747 DOI: 10.1113/jp284739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper updates and builds on a previous White Paper in this journal that some of us contributed to concerning the molecular and cellular basis of cardiac neurobiology of heart disease. Here we focus on recent findings that underpin cardiac autonomic development, novel intracellular pathways and neuroplasticity. Throughout we highlight unanswered questions and areas of controversy. Whilst some neurochemical pathways are already demonstrating prognostic viability in patients with heart failure, we also discuss the opportunity to better understand sympathetic impairment by using patient specific stem cells that provides pathophysiological contextualization to study 'disease in a dish'. Novel imaging techniques and spatial transcriptomics are also facilitating a road map for target discovery of molecular pathways that may form a therapeutic opportunity to treat cardiac dysautonomia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth A Habecker
- Department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, Department of Medicine Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Donald M Bers
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Susan J Birren
- Department of Biology, Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Rui Chang
- Department of Neuroscience, Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Neil Herring
- Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre and BHF Centre of Research Excellence, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew W Kay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Dan Li
- Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre and BHF Centre of Research Excellence, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David Mendelowitz
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Marco Mongillo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Johanna M Montgomery
- Department of Physiology and Manaaki Manawa Centre for Heart Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Crystal M Ripplinger
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Annika Winbo
- Department of Physiology and Manaaki Manawa Centre for Heart Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Tania Zaglia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Nadja Zeltner
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - David J Paterson
- Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre and BHF Centre of Research Excellence, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Ashton JL, Prince B, Sands G, Argent L, Anderson M, Smith JEG, Tedoldi A, Ahmad A, Baddeley D, Pereira AG, Lever N, Ramanathan T, Smaill BH, Montgomery JM. Electrophysiology and 3D-imaging reveal properties of human intracardiac neurons and increased excitability with atrial fibrillation. J Physiol 2024. [PMID: 38687681 DOI: 10.1113/jp286278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Altered autonomic input to the heart plays a major role in atrial fibrillation (AF). Autonomic neurons termed ganglionated plexi (GP) are clustered on the heart surface to provide the last point of neural control of cardiac function. To date the properties of GP neurons in humans are unknown. Here we have addressed this knowledge gap in human GP neuron structure and physiology in patients with and without AF. Human right atrial GP neurons embedded in epicardial adipose tissue were excised during open heart surgery performed on both non-AF and AF patients and then characterised physiologically by whole cell patch clamp techniques. Structural analysis was also performed after fixation at both the single cell and at the entire GP levels via three-dimensional confocal imaging. Human GP neurons were found to exhibit unique properties and structural complexity with branched neurite outgrowth. Significant differences in excitability were revealed between AF and non-AF GP neurons as measured by lower current to induce action potential firing, a reduced occurrence of low action potential firing rates, decreased accommodation and increased synaptic density. Visualisation of entire GPs showed almost all neurons are cholinergic with a small proportion of noradrenergic and dual phenotype neurons. Phenotypic distribution differences occurred with AF including decreased cholinergic and dual phenotype neurons, and increased noradrenergic neurons. These data show both functional and structural differences occur between GP neurons from patients with and without AF, highlighting that cellular plasticity occurs in neural input to the heart that could alter autonomic influence on atrial function. KEY POINTS: The autonomic nervous system plays a critical role in regulating heart rhythm and the initiation of AF; however, the structural and functional properties of human autonomic neurons in the autonomic ganglionated plexi (GP) remain unknown. Here we perform the first whole cell patch clamp electrophysiological and large tissue confocal imaging analysis of these neurons from patients with and without AF. Our data show human GP neurons are functionally and structurally complex. Measurements of action potential kinetics show higher excitability in GP neurons from AF patients as measured by lower current to induce action potential firing, reduced low firing action potential rates, and decreased action potential accommodation. Confocal imaging shows increased synaptic density and noradrenergic phenotypes in patients with AF. Both functional and structural differences occur in GP neurons from patients with AF that could alter autonomic influence on atrial rhythm.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Ashton
- Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Manaaki Manawa Centre for Heart Research, University of Auckland and Pūtahi Manawa Centre of Research Excellence, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - B Prince
- Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Manaaki Manawa Centre for Heart Research, University of Auckland and Pūtahi Manawa Centre of Research Excellence, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - G Sands
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - L Argent
- Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Manaaki Manawa Centre for Heart Research, University of Auckland and Pūtahi Manawa Centre of Research Excellence, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - M Anderson
- Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - J E G Smith
- Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Manaaki Manawa Centre for Heart Research, University of Auckland and Pūtahi Manawa Centre of Research Excellence, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - A Tedoldi
- Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Manaaki Manawa Centre for Heart Research, University of Auckland and Pūtahi Manawa Centre of Research Excellence, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - A Ahmad
- Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Manaaki Manawa Centre for Heart Research, University of Auckland and Pūtahi Manawa Centre of Research Excellence, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - D Baddeley
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - A G Pereira
- Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - N Lever
- Manaaki Manawa Centre for Heart Research, University of Auckland and Pūtahi Manawa Centre of Research Excellence, Auckland, New Zealand
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Cardiology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - T Ramanathan
- Manaaki Manawa Centre for Heart Research, University of Auckland and Pūtahi Manawa Centre of Research Excellence, Auckland, New Zealand
- Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - B H Smaill
- Manaaki Manawa Centre for Heart Research, University of Auckland and Pūtahi Manawa Centre of Research Excellence, Auckland, New Zealand
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Johanna M Montgomery
- Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Manaaki Manawa Centre for Heart Research, University of Auckland and Pūtahi Manawa Centre of Research Excellence, Auckland, New Zealand
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Barrett MS, Bauer TC, Li MH, Hegarty DM, Mota CMD, Amaefuna CJ, Ingram SL, Habecker BA, Aicher SA. Ischemia-reperfusion myocardial infarction induces remodeling of left cardiac-projecting stellate ganglia neurons. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 326:H166-H179. [PMID: 37947434 PMCID: PMC11213476 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00582.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Neurons in the stellate ganglion (SG) provide sympathetic innervation to the heart, brown adipose tissue (BAT), and other organs. Sympathetic innervation to the heart becomes hyperactive following myocardial infarction (MI). The impact of MI on the morphology of cardiac sympathetic neurons is not known, but we hypothesized that MI would stimulate increased cell and dendritic tree size in cardiac neurons. In this study, we examined the effects of ischemia-reperfusion MI on sympathetic neurons using dual retrograde tracing methods to allow detailed characterization of cardiac- and BAT-projecting neurons. Different fluorescently conjugated cholera toxin subunit B (CTb) tracers were injected into the pericardium and the interscapular BAT pads, respectively. Experimental animals received a 45-min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and controls received sham surgery. One week later, hearts were collected for assessment of MI infarct and SGs were collected for morphological or electrophysiological analysis. Cardiac-projecting SG neurons from MI mice had smaller cell bodies and shorter dendritic trees compared with sham animals, specifically on the left side ipsilateral to the MI. BAT-projecting neurons were not altered by MI, demonstrating the subpopulation specificity of the response. The normal size and distribution differences between BAT- and cardiac-projecting stellate ganglion neurons were not altered by MI. Patch-clamp recordings from cardiac-projecting left SG neurons revealed increased spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents despite the decrease in cell and dendritic tree size. Thus, increased dendritic tree size does not contribute to the enhanced sympathetic neural activity seen after MI.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Myocardial infarction (MI) causes structural and functional changes specifically in stellate ganglion neurons that project to the heart, but not in cells that project to brown adipose fat tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine S Barrett
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Temerity C Bauer
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Ming-Hua Li
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Deborah M Hegarty
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Clarissa M D Mota
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Chimezie J Amaefuna
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Susan L Ingram
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Beth A Habecker
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Sue A Aicher
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
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van Weperen VYH, Ripplinger CM, Vaseghi M. Autonomic control of ventricular function in health and disease: current state of the art. Clin Auton Res 2023; 33:491-517. [PMID: 37166736 PMCID: PMC10173946 DOI: 10.1007/s10286-023-00948-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cardiac autonomic dysfunction is one of the main pillars of cardiovascular pathophysiology. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current state of the art on the pathological remodeling that occurs within the autonomic nervous system with cardiac injury and available neuromodulatory therapies for autonomic dysfunction in heart failure. METHODS Data from peer-reviewed publications on autonomic function in health and after cardiac injury are reviewed. The role of and evidence behind various neuromodulatory therapies both in preclinical investigation and in-use in clinical practice are summarized. RESULTS A harmonic interplay between the heart and the autonomic nervous system exists at multiple levels of the neuraxis. This interplay becomes disrupted in the setting of cardiovascular disease, resulting in pathological changes at multiple levels, from subcellular cardiac signaling of neurotransmitters to extra-cardiac, extra-thoracic remodeling. The subsequent detrimental cycle of sympathovagal imbalance, characterized by sympathoexcitation and parasympathetic withdrawal, predisposes to ventricular arrhythmias, progression of heart failure, and cardiac mortality. Knowledge on the etiology and pathophysiology of this condition has increased exponentially over the past few decades, resulting in a number of different neuromodulatory approaches. However, significant knowledge gaps in both sympathetic and parasympathetic interactions and causal factors that mediate progressive sympathoexcitation and parasympathetic dysfunction remain. CONCLUSIONS Although our understanding of autonomic imbalance in cardiovascular diseases has significantly increased, specific, pivotal mediators of this imbalance and the recognition and implementation of available autonomic parameters and neuromodulatory therapies are still lagging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Y H van Weperen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, UCLA Cardiac Arrythmia Center, University of California, 100 Medical Plaza, Suite 660, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | | | - Marmar Vaseghi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, UCLA Cardiac Arrythmia Center, University of California, 100 Medical Plaza, Suite 660, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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Miller RR, Tso MM, Rimok J, Smith DB. Collateral connectivity of the sympathetic nervous system. J Physiol 2023; 601:3443-3444. [PMID: 37190919 DOI: 10.1113/jp284933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan R Miller
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cardiac Sciences, Clinical Neurosciences, Biomedical Engineering, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, RESTORE.network, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Marcus M Tso
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cardiac Sciences, Clinical Neurosciences, Biomedical Engineering, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, RESTORE.network, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Julien Rimok
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cardiac Sciences, Clinical Neurosciences, Biomedical Engineering, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, RESTORE.network, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Donovan B Smith
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cardiac Sciences, Clinical Neurosciences, Biomedical Engineering, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, RESTORE.network, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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