Projects per year
Abstract
Indirect measures of cardiac vagal activity are strongly associated with exercise capacity, yet a causal relationship has not been established. Here we show that in rats, genetic silencing of the largest population of brainstem vagal preganglionic neurons residing in the brainstem’s dorsal vagal motor nucleus dramatically impairs exercise capacity, while optogenetic recruitment of the same neuronal population enhances cardiac contractility and prolongs exercise endurance. These data provide direct experimental evidence that arasympathetic
vagal drive generated by a defined CNS circuit determines the ability to exercise. Decreased activity and/or gradual loss of the identified neuronal cell group provides a neurophysiological basis for the progressive decline of exercise capacity with aging and in diverse disease states.
vagal drive generated by a defined CNS circuit determines the ability to exercise. Decreased activity and/or gradual loss of the identified neuronal cell group provides a neurophysiological basis for the progressive decline of exercise capacity with aging and in diverse disease states.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 15097 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Nature Communications |
Volume | 8 |
Early online date | 18 May 2017 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 18 May 2017 |
Bibliographical note
28 February 2017Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Vagal determinants of exercise capacity'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Exploring astrocytic orphan G-protein coupled receptors as potential targets for neuroprotective therapies
Kasparov, S. (Principal Investigator)
15/07/14 → 14/07/17
Project: Research
Profiles
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Professor Sergey Kasparov
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience - Professor in Molecular Physiology
- Bristol Neuroscience
Person: Academic , Member