Figure 1

Autonomie regulation of cardiac function. (1) Baroreceptors in the carotid arteries and aortic arch monitor arterial pressure. Increased arterial pressure activates signaling to the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS) and reduces sympathetic output and simultaneously activates the parasympathetic nervous system. A decrease in arterial pressure has the opposite effect. (2) Activation of sympathetic nerves leads to positive chronotropic and inotropic responses as well as arteriolar constriction. (3) Activation of the parasympathetic system via the vagus nerve leads to negative chronotropy and lusitropy. (4) The cardiac NNCS amplifies parasympathetic cholinergic signaling and regulates heart rate recovery after activity. In addition, the cardiomyocyte-derived ACh prevents cardiac remodeling and hypertrophy under physiological conditions. (5) Vagus and/or sympathetic splanchnic nerve stimulation leads to activation of the antiinflammatory pathway, which involves secretion of nonneuronal ACh from splenic T cells. This T cell-derived ACh activates α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChRs) on macrophages and inhibits the release of proinflammatory cytokines.