Alteration in function of the cardiac autonomic nervous system has proved to be a powerful predictor of cardiac death or serious arrhythmia in patients with cardiac disease, yet little is known about the mechanisms by which this system is regulated. Recent evidence suggests that the gaseous molecule nitric oxide (NO) may act as an important mediator in this pathway. Histochemical staining techniques have identified neuronal populations that contain NO synthase within medullary cardio-regulatory sites and their peripheral autonomic pathways. Drugs that modulate the NO pathway (administered both systemically and into the central nervous system) cause changes in pre- and post-ganglionic sympathetic nerve activity that imply that NO serves to inhibit central sympathetic outflow. There is also evidence that NO may attenuate cardiovascular end-organ responses to sympathetic stimulation. Studies suggest that NO modulates cardiac vagal control, increasing the activity of central vagal motoneurons and, more contentiously, contributing to the bradycardic effects of vagal stimulation. NO also modulates so-called ‘indirect’ vagal inhibition of sympathetic cardiac responses. Additionally, central attenuation of baroreflex-mediated vagal control has been described. There is relatively little information available on the importance of NO in the regulation of human cardiovascular autonomic control. Further well-controlled studies are required.
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Review Article|
May 21 1999
Role of nitric oxide in the regulation of cardiovascular autonomic control
Jonathan N. TOWNEND
Jonathan N. TOWNEND
1University of Birmingham Department of CardiovascularMedicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TH, U.K.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society © 1999
1999
Clin Sci (Lond) (1999) 97 (1): 5–17.
Citation
Saqib CHOWDHARY, Jonathan N. TOWNEND; Role of nitric oxide in the regulation of cardiovascular autonomic control. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 July 1999; 97 (1): 5–17. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/cs0970005
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